Team USA secured six medals following today’s quarterfinal bouts at the 2023 Strandja Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Jewry Rodriguez (Houston,Texas) and Alyssa Mendoza (Caldwell, Idaho) continued their impressive elite international tournament debut runs with victories today to secure their first elite international medal. Rodriguez took all five judges’ cards over Ireland’s Jennifer Lehane, while Mendoza grabbed the 4-1 decision over India’s Vinakshi.
Rodriguez will look for a place in the finals with a victory in her bout tomorrow against the experienced Sandra Drabik from Poland, while Mendoza will face China’s Xu Zichun.
2020 Olympian Naomi Graham (Fayetteville, N.C.) was the third female boxer from USA Boxing to clinch a medal follow today’s unanimous decision win over Australia’s Lekeisha Pergoliti, which sets up another matchup between Graham and Canada’s Tammara Thibeault, the 2022 Elite Women’s World Champion.
Light welterweight Emilio Garcia (Laredo, Texas) picked up his fourth unanimous decision victory of the tournament to guarantee himself a medal. Garcia continued to dominate his opponents, including today’s opponent, David Gkevorkian of Germany, to earn his place in tomorrow’s semifinal bout with Mujibillo Tursunov of Uzbekistan.
2021 World Champion Rahim Gonzales (Las Vegas, Nev.) continued his international win streak with today’s 4-1 win over Kevin Boakye Schumann of Germany. Gonzales will look to take his 11th straight international victory in tomorrow’s semifinal bout with Jasurbek Yuldoshev of Uzbekistan, the 2023 U22 Asian Champion.
Jamar Talley (Camden, N.J.) picked up his second win of the tournament after defeating EUBC’s Uladzislau Smiahlikau by unanimous decision. Talley will return to the ring tomorrow to face Ecuador’s Julio Castillo.
Competition gets underway at 6:00 a.m. ET and full bout sheets for tomorrow can be found here. Livestream information can be found on the Bulgarian Boxing Federation website.
Quarterfinals Results
51 kg: Bishwamitra Chongtham/IND dec. over Jordan Roach, Upper Marlboro, Md./USA, 5-0
54 kg: Jewry Rodriguez, Houston, Texas/USA, dec. over Jennifer Lehane/IRL, 5-0
57 kg: Svetlana Kamenova/BUL dec. over Jajaira Gonzalez, Glendora, Calif./USA, 5-0
57 kg: Alyssa Mendoza, Caldwell, Idaho/USA, dec. over Vinakshi/IND, 4-1
63.5 kg: Emilio Garcia, Laredo, Texas/USA, dec. over David Gkevorkian/GER, 5-0
75 kg: Naomi Graham, Fayetteville, N.C./USA, dec. over Lekeisha Pergoliti/AUS, 5-0
80 kg: Rahim Gonzales, Las Vegas, Nev./USA, dec. over Kevin Boakye Schumann/GER, 4-1
92 kg: Jamar Talley, Camden, N.J./USA, dec. over Uladzislau Smiahlikau/EUBC, 5-0
Semifinals Schedule
54 kg: Jewry Rodriguez, Houston, Texas/USA, vs. Sandra Drabik/POL
57 kg: Alyssa Mendoza, Caldwell, Idaho/USA, vs. Xu Zichun/CHN
63.5 kg: Emilio Garcia, Laredo, Texas/USA, vs. Mujibillo Tursunov/UZB
75 kg: Naomi Graham, Fayetteville, N.C./USA, vs. Tammara Thibeault/CAN
80 kg: Rahim Gonzales, Las Vegas, Nev./USA, vs. Jasurbek Yuldoshev/UZB
92 kg: Jamar Talley, Camden, N.J./USA, vs. Julio Castillo/ECU