Two More Team USA Boxers Advance to Round of 16

After a week’s wait, the final three Americans waiting to make their debut stepped into the ring at the Stark Arena in Belgrade, Serbia, with two coming out victorious.
Rahim Gonzales (Las Vegas, Nev.) began the day for Team USA against India’s Sachin Kumar in the first day of the session. The first round was an extremely close bout; however, Gonzales was able to take a slight 3-2 lead going into the second round.
The second and third rounds saw the American light heavyweight settle into the fight, resulting in a 4-1 result after the second bell, and eventually winning the overall decision by 4-1. Gonzales will have a day of rest before boxing in his round of 16 matchup with Odiljon Aslonov of Uzbekistan on Monday.
Lightweight Vershaun Lee (Rock Island, Ill.) grabbed the team’s 10th win of these World Championships in impressive fashion over Trinidad and Tobago’s Blessing Waldropt. 
The bout began at a slower pace, with both boxers looking to learn more about their opponent, with Lee landing more quality punches to take the 5-0 lead. In the second round, the American stunned Waldropt with a combination, leading Lee to take full advantage, landing a massive right overhand that resulted in a knockout finish. Lee will return to the ring on Monday, where he will face 2019 World Champion and 2020 Olympic Champion Andy Cruz Gomez of Cuba. 
The final American to take to the ring today, Jordan Panthen (Kapolei, Hawaii), sadly saw his World Championships run come to a quick ending, as he was cut following an unintentional headbutt. The referee stopped the contest, where the judges had scored the round in favor of his opponent, Thailand’s Weerapon Jongjoho the decision. 
Obed Bartee-El (Harvest, Ala.) and Jamar Talley (Camden, N.J.) will take to the ring tomorrow for their round of 16 bouts against 2020 Olympian Arman Darchinyan of Armenia and Andrei Zaplitni of Moldova, respectively. Both boxers will compete in the second session of the day and can be followed along by clicking here. 

Day 6 Results

63.5 kg: Vershaun Lee, Rock Island, Ill./USA, won by knockout over Blessing Waldropt/TTO, KO

75 kg: Weerapon Jongjoho/TBF dec. over Jordan Panthen, Kapolei, Hawaii/USA, RSC-Injury

80 kg: Rahim Gonzales, Las Vegas, Nev./USA, dec. over Sachin Kumar/IND, 4-1 
Day 7 Schedule

71 kg: Obed Bartee-El, Harvest, Ala./USA, vs. Arman Darchinyan/ARM 

92 kg: Jamar Talley, Camden, N.J./USA, vs. Andrei Zaplitni/MDA