Team USA grabs 3 wins on first day of 2022 AMBC Elite Championships
by USA Boxing
Team USA went 3-3 during the first day of boxing at the 2022 AMBC Elite Championships.
Reigning World Champion Jahmal Harvey (Oxon Hill, Md.) started the team off with a dominating win over Miguel Barreras of Mexico. Harvey took all three rounds over Barreras to advance to the next rounds matchup against Dominican Republic’s Carlos Perez Yan on Sunday.
Lightweight Jonathan Mansour (San Diego, Calif.) put on his own impressive performance in his tournament debut to pick up Team USA’s second round. Mansour won by unanimous decision over Manuel Febus of Puerto Rico to set up against Dominican Republic’s Alexy Miguel de la Cruz, the 2021 Elite Men’s World Championships bronze medalist and 2020 Olympian. The two will take to the ring on Sunday.
Jajaira Gonzalez (Glendora, Calif.) made a strong return to the international stage since last representing Team USA in 2018. The three-time World Champion and Youth Olympic Champion landed clean and powerful shots to throughout all three rounds to secure the 4-1 victory against Beatriz Palavecino Viviana. Gonzalez will have the full weekend to recover before her Monday bout with Colombia’s Angie Paolo Valdes.
Three other American’s stepped into the ring today. Emilio Garcia (Laredo, Texas) fell short in a 3-2 decision in his elite international debut; Morelle McCane (Cleveland, Ohio) lost a 4-1 decision to a 2020 Olympian, while Arika Skoog (Boston, Mass.) took a 5-0 loss in her international debut.
Four members of Team USA will be in the ring tomorrow, with Naomi Graham (Fayetteville, N.C.) and Jennifer Lozano (Laredo, Texas) will be in the first session, which begins at 3:00 p.m. EST, while Kayla Gomez (El Paso, Texas) and Amelia Moore (Colorado Springs, Colo.) box during the 6:00 p.m. session.
Click here to follow all the action, including results, bout sheet and livestream.
Day 1 Results
57 kg: Jahmal Harvey, Oxon Hill, Md./USA, dec. over Miguel Fernando Vega Barreras/MEX, 5-0
60 kg: Jonathan Mansour, San Diego, Calif./USA, dec. over Manuel Febus/PUR, 5-0
63 kg: Jajaira Gonzalez, Glendora, Calif./USA, dec. over Beatriz Palavecino Viviana/ARG, 4-1
63.5 kg: Jose Manuel Viafara Fori/COL dec. over Emilio Garcia, Laredo, Texas/USA, 3-2
66 kg: Stephanie Pineiro Aquino/PUR dec. over Arika Skoog, Boston, Mass./USA, 5-0
70 kg: Maria Moronta Hernandez/DOM dec. over Morrelle McCane, Cleveland, Ohio/USA, 4-1
Day 2 Bouts
Session 1 - 3:00 p.m. EST
50 kg: Jennifer Lozano, Laredo, Texas/USA, vs. Liliana Murillo Deicy/COL (Bout 11)
75 kg: Naomi Graham, Fayetteville, N.C./USA, vs. Tammara Thibeault/CAN (Bout 12)
Session 2 – 7:00 p.m. EST
52 kg: Kayla Gomez, El Paso, Texas/USA, vs. Valeria Cardenas Abarca/CRC (Bout 6)
57 kg: Amelia Moore, Colorado Springs, Colo./USA, vs. Fernanda Antuinez Centeno/HON (Bout 14)