Team USA Advances Eight to Finals of 2021 Junior Pan American Games Qualifier
by USA Boxing
USA Boxing had another successful day at the 2021 Junior Pan American Games Qualifier in Guadalajara, Mexico, advancing eight to their championship bout, as well as grabbing two bronze medals this evening.
Steven Navarro (Los Angeles, Calif.) started the team off with another strong performance against Luis Alvarez of Colombia. The flyweight took all five judges’ cards to advance to the championship bout against Ronald Ribeiro of Brazil.
Featherweight Julius Ball (Santee, Calif.) continued to be impressive in Mexico, taking his third victory of the tournament. Ball’s 5-0 decision over William Colon of Puerto Rico earned him the chance to earn gold in tomorrow’s bout against Colombia’s John Orobio, while Joel Iriarte (Bakersfield, Calif.) earned his place in the lightweight finale by way of unanimous decision against Cuba’s Pavel Echade. Iriarte will go head-to-head with Carlos Utria of Colombia for a shot at the gold medal.
Ali Feliz (Danbury, Conn.) once again took full advantage of being a last-minute replacement for Team USA to punch his ticket to the super heavyweight finals after taking all five judges’ cards against Aaron Amaro of Mexico. Feliz will look for one more strong performance against Adrian Fresneda of Cuba in tomorrow’s finals for a chance to conclude his first international tournament at the top of the podium.
Flyweight Kayla Gomez (El Paso, Texas) once again was too much to handle for her opponent after the referee stopped her bout with Jennifer Pardo of Ecuador in the second round. Gomez will look for win number three, as well as the gold medal, in tomorrow’s bout with Mexico’s Margarita Murguia.
Jewry Rodriguez (Houston, Texas) and Faith Mendez (Ocala, Fla.) continued Team USA’s winning ways in their international debuts. Rodriguez took a 5-0 decision over Venezuela’s Valeria Andradez, while Mendez took the winning end of a 3-2 against Juliannnys Alvarez of Venezuela. Rodriguez will face Rosa De La Luz of Mexico and Mendez takes on Camila Camilo of Colombia in their respective championship bout.
Welterweight Jesikah Guerra (Victorville, Calif.) earned the American’s eighth win of the day to secure her spot in the finals. Guerra took her own 5-0 decision victory against Hilary Carrera of Dominican Republic to set a championship bout with Mexico’s Maria Rodriguez.
Middleweights Sativa James (Dixon, Calif.) and Donte Layne (Elmont, N.Y.) fell short to their opponents by a 4-1 decision to earn a bronze medal in the tournament.
Competition will conclude tomorrow, beginning at 12:00 p.m. CST, and can be followed along here.
Semifinal Results
51 kg: Kayla Gomez, El Paso, Texas/USA, won by RSC over Jennifer Pardo/ECU, RSC-2
52 kg: Steven Navarro, Los Angeles, Calif./USA, dec. over Luis Alvarez/COL, 5-0
57 kg: Julius Ballo, Santee, Calif./USA, dec. over William Colon/PUR, 5-0
57 kg: Jewy Rodriguez, Houston, Texas/USA, dec. over Valeria Andradez/VEN. 5-0
60 kg: Faith Mendez, Ocala, Fla./USA, dec. over Juliannnys Alvarez/VEN, 3-2
63 kg: Joel Iriarte, Bakersfield,Calif./USA, dec. over Pavel Echade/CUB, 5-0
69 kg: Jesikah Guerra, Victorville, Calif./USA, dec. over Hilary Carrera/DOM, 5-0
75 kg: Felipe De Oliveira/BRA dec. over Donte Layne, Elmont, N.Y./USA, 4-1
75 kg: Angie Solano/COL, dec. over Sativa James, Dixon, Calif./USA, 4-1
91+ kg: Ali Feliz, Danbury, Conn./USA, dec. over Aaron Amaro/MEX, 5-0
Finals Schedule
51 kg: Kayla Gomez, El Paso, Texas, vs. Margarita Murguia/MEX
52 kg: Steven Navarra, Los Angeles, Calif./USA, vs. Ronald Ribeiro/BRA
57 kg: Julius Ballo, Santee, Calif./USA, vs. John Orobio/COL
57 kg: Jewry Rodriguez, Houston, Texas/USA, vs. Rosa De La Luz/MEX
60 kg: Faith Mendez, Ocala, Fla./USA, vs. Camila Camilo/COL
63 kg: Joel Iriarte, Bakersfield, Calif./USA, vs. Carlos Utria/COL
69 kg: Jesikah Guerra, Victorville, Calif./USA, vs. Maria Rodriguez/MEX
91+ kg: Ali Feliz, Danbury, Conn./USA, vs. Adrian Fresneda/CUB