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Team USA impresses during fourth day of 2023 Strandja Tournament
by USA Boxing
Team USA had an impressive fourth day of boxing at the 2023 Strandja Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria, winning all three bouts to have eight boxers in tomorrow’s quarterfinals.
Jordan Roach (Upper Marlboro, Md.) began the day by taking a unanimous decision over Georgia’s Sakhil Alakhverdovi in his international debut. The flyweight was a last-minute replacement in the tournament and looks to continue to make the most of his international debut during tomorrow’s quarterfinal bout against Bishwamitra Chongtham of India, a former Youth World Championships bronze medalists and Youth Asian Champion.
2021 World Champion Rahim Gonzales (Las Vegas, Nev.) returned to the ring for the first time since his gold medal performance at last year’s AMBC Elite Championships with a tough opponent, Kristian Nikolov of Bulgaria. Gonzales started off by taking an early 4-1 lead after the first round, however, Nikolov came back to take the second round 4-1.
With the fight on the line, the American light heavyweight came back strong giving his to take all five judges’ cards in the final round, including one judge scoring the round 10-8, to take the bout by a score of 4-0 and advance to a quarterfinal bout against Germany’s Kevin Boakye Schumann tomorrow.
Like Gonzales, heavyweight Jamar Talley (Camden, N.J.) was making his own return to the ring since winning gold at last year’s AMBC Elite Championships and he did not disappoint, winning by knockout over India’s Sanjeet Sanjeet after landing a strong left hand that led Sanjeet to fall to the canvas in the closing seconds of the opening round. Talley will now face EUBC’s Uladzislau Smiahlikau during tomorrow’s quarterfinal bouts.
Five other members of Team USA will take to the ring tomorrow, with a full schedule seen below. Boxing can be followed along by clicking here. Each victory tomorrow will guarantee each boxer with at least a bronze medal.
Day 4 Results
51 kg: Jordan Roach, Upper Marlboro, Md./USA, dec. over Sakhil Alakhverdovi/GEO, 5-0
80 kg: Rahim Gonzales, Las Vegas, Nev./USA, dec. over Kristian Nikolov/BUL, 4-0
92 kg: Jamar Talley, Camden, N.J./USA, won by knockout over Sanjeet Sanjeet/IND, KO
Day 5 Schedule
51 kg: Jordan Roach, Upper Marlboro, Md./USA, vs. Bishwamitra Chongtham/IND (Ring A, Bout 5, 11:00 a.m. ET)
54 kg: Jewry Rodriguez, Houston, Texas/USA, vs. Jennifer Lehane/IRL (Ring B, Bout 8, 7:45 a.m. ET)
57 kg: Jajaira Gonzalez, Glendora, Calif./USA, vs. Svetlana Kamenova/BUL (Ring A, Bout 10, 8:15 am ET)
57 kg: Alyssa Mendoza, Caldwell, Idaho/USA, vs. Vinakshi/IND (Ring A, Bout 11, 8:30 a.m. ET)
63.5 kg: Emilio Garcia, Laredo, Texas/USA, vs. David Gkevorkian/GER (Ring A, Bout 10, 12:15 p.m. ET)
75 kg: Naomi Graham, Fayetteville, N.C./USA, vs. Lekeisha Pergoliti/AUS (Ring A, bout 4, 9:15 a.m. ET)
80 kg: Rahim Gonzales, Las Vegas, Nev./USA, vs. Kevin Boakye Schumann/GER (Ring A, Bout 11, 12:30 p.m. ET)
92 kg: Jamar Talley, Camden, N.J./USA, vs. Uladzislau Smiahlikau/EUBC (Ring B, Bout 13, 1:00 p.m. ET)
Jordan Roach (Upper Marlboro, Md.) began the day by taking a unanimous decision over Georgia’s Sakhil Alakhverdovi in his international debut. The flyweight was a last-minute replacement in the tournament and looks to continue to make the most of his international debut during tomorrow’s quarterfinal bout against Bishwamitra Chongtham of India, a former Youth World Championships bronze medalists and Youth Asian Champion.
2021 World Champion Rahim Gonzales (Las Vegas, Nev.) returned to the ring for the first time since his gold medal performance at last year’s AMBC Elite Championships with a tough opponent, Kristian Nikolov of Bulgaria. Gonzales started off by taking an early 4-1 lead after the first round, however, Nikolov came back to take the second round 4-1.
With the fight on the line, the American light heavyweight came back strong giving his to take all five judges’ cards in the final round, including one judge scoring the round 10-8, to take the bout by a score of 4-0 and advance to a quarterfinal bout against Germany’s Kevin Boakye Schumann tomorrow.
Like Gonzales, heavyweight Jamar Talley (Camden, N.J.) was making his own return to the ring since winning gold at last year’s AMBC Elite Championships and he did not disappoint, winning by knockout over India’s Sanjeet Sanjeet after landing a strong left hand that led Sanjeet to fall to the canvas in the closing seconds of the opening round. Talley will now face EUBC’s Uladzislau Smiahlikau during tomorrow’s quarterfinal bouts.
Five other members of Team USA will take to the ring tomorrow, with a full schedule seen below. Boxing can be followed along by clicking here. Each victory tomorrow will guarantee each boxer with at least a bronze medal.
Day 4 Results
51 kg: Jordan Roach, Upper Marlboro, Md./USA, dec. over Sakhil Alakhverdovi/GEO, 5-0
80 kg: Rahim Gonzales, Las Vegas, Nev./USA, dec. over Kristian Nikolov/BUL, 4-0
92 kg: Jamar Talley, Camden, N.J./USA, won by knockout over Sanjeet Sanjeet/IND, KO
Day 5 Schedule
51 kg: Jordan Roach, Upper Marlboro, Md./USA, vs. Bishwamitra Chongtham/IND (Ring A, Bout 5, 11:00 a.m. ET)
54 kg: Jewry Rodriguez, Houston, Texas/USA, vs. Jennifer Lehane/IRL (Ring B, Bout 8, 7:45 a.m. ET)
57 kg: Jajaira Gonzalez, Glendora, Calif./USA, vs. Svetlana Kamenova/BUL (Ring A, Bout 10, 8:15 am ET)
57 kg: Alyssa Mendoza, Caldwell, Idaho/USA, vs. Vinakshi/IND (Ring A, Bout 11, 8:30 a.m. ET)
63.5 kg: Emilio Garcia, Laredo, Texas/USA, vs. David Gkevorkian/GER (Ring A, Bout 10, 12:15 p.m. ET)
75 kg: Naomi Graham, Fayetteville, N.C./USA, vs. Lekeisha Pergoliti/AUS (Ring A, bout 4, 9:15 a.m. ET)
80 kg: Rahim Gonzales, Las Vegas, Nev./USA, vs. Kevin Boakye Schumann/GER (Ring A, Bout 11, 12:30 p.m. ET)
92 kg: Jamar Talley, Camden, N.J./USA, vs. Uladzislau Smiahlikau/EUBC (Ring B, Bout 13, 1:00 p.m. ET)