Yoseline Perez and Kelvin Watts each earn 5- decisions in Tuesday's quarterfinal matchups
FOZ DO IGUACU, Brazil (April 2, 2025) – On day three of the World Boxing Cup: Brazil 2025, Team USA sent two more boxers into medal rounds, bringing their medal count to a minimum of five for the week. The Stars and Stripes saw wins from a pair of experienced boxers, Carlos Flowers (70 kg) and Jennifer Lozano (51 kg). Flowers and Lozano dominated their respective bouts and advanced to the medal round, securing at least a bronze medal for each contender.
Flowers went in the afternoon session and earned Team USA's first RSC decision of the tournament. The Delaware native landed a massive right hook in a three-punch combo on Eduardo Beckford in the third round, dropping the Panama foe. The ref ended the bout, advancing Flowers into the medal round. Flowers secured every judge's scorecard in the first two rounds, including 10-8 scores in the second round. Flowers will go head-to-head with England’s Odel Kamara on Thursday, April 3, in bout No. 66.
Following Flowers was Lozano, a Paris 2024 Olympian out of Laredo, Texas. The Stars and Stripes representative in the 51 kg bracket dominated from start to finish in her bout, securing four 30-25 scorecards. Lozano earned four 10-8 scorecards in the second round and carried that momentum into the final round, where she unanimously earned five 10-8 scores. She won 5-0 and advanced to the medal round, where she will box Italy’s Lucia Elen Ayari on Friday, April 4, in bout No. 84.
Also boxing for Team USA on the day were Paris 2024 Olympian Alyssa Mendoza (57 kg), Dustin Jimenez (65 kg), and Robby Gonzales (80 kg). These three boxers made their tournament debuts on Wednesday but unfortunately fell short in their respective brackets.
Team USA will see four boxers enter the ring tomorrow. Flowers will return first in the afternoon session against Kamara. Yoseline Perez (54 kg) will return after her first-round win over Australia’s 2024 Olympian Monique Suraci. Morelle McCane (65 kg), a USA 2024 Olympian, will make her tournament debut and look to secure a victory over England’s Sacha Hickey. A win by McCane would vault her into the title bout of her division.
Kelvin Watts (90+ kg) will go up against the experienced Damar Thomas from England to conclude Thursday’s action for Team USA. Watts’ next bout marks just his second international showdown, following a win in his international debut over Brazil’s 2020 Olympic bronze medalist, Abner Junior.
Wednesday, April 2, Results:
W57kg: Julia Szeremeta, POL defeats Alyssa Mendoza, Caldwell, ID/USA | 5-0
M70kg: Carlos Flowers, Dover, DE/USA defeats Eduardo Beckford, PAN | RSC-Round 3
W51kg: Jennifer Lozano, Laredo, TX/USA defeats Ching-Yu Shiu, TPE | 5-0
M65kg: Gianluigi Malanga, ITA defeats Dustin Jimenez, Rochester, NY/USA | 3-0
M80kg: Javokhir Ummataliev, UZB defeats Robby "Rahim" Gonzales, Las Vegas, NV/USA | 3-2
Thursday, April 3, Schedule:
Afternoon Session:
M70kg: Carlos Flowers, Dover, DE/USA vs. Odel Kamara, ENG | Bout 66
Evening Session:
W54kg: Yoseline Perez, Houston, TX/USA vs. Sirine Charaabi, ITA | Bout 70
W65kg: Morelle McCane, Cleveland, OH/USA vs. Sacha Hickey, ENG | Bout 74
M90+kg: Kelvin Watts, Chesapeake, VA/USA vs. Damar Thomas, ENG | Bout 82
About USA Boxing
USA Boxing was established to promote and grow Olympic-style boxing in the United States and to inspire the tireless pursuit of Olympic gold and enable athletes and coaches to achieve sustained competitive excellence. Additionally, USA Boxing endeavors to teach all participants and diverse champions, both in and out of the ring. USA Boxing is one team, one nation, going for gold!
INFORMATION:
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