52 guaranteed medallists confirmed in Panamerican Games Qualifier

June 7th, 2015 / All

After the quarter-finals of the Panamerican Games Qualifier was held in Tijuana, Mexico, 52 boxers from 18 nations remain in the competition.

Both the defending AIBA Women’s World Champions Marlen Esparza and London 2012 Olympic Champion Claressa Shields advanced through to the semi-finals, while developing boxing nations of the region such as Bahamas, Costa Rica and Nicaragua also achieved medals at the qualification event.

Bout of the day

Experienced Canadian flyweight (51 kg) Mandy Bujold had to meet Mexico’s Sulem Urbina in the quarter-finals, and the two boxers produced an outstanding match.

Bujold opened the match in impressive form, but her Mexican rival improved strongly as the second round progressed.

With everything to play for in the third frame, Bujold’s attacks found their target following her accurate timing, and her hand was raised at the end of the contest.

She can now prepare for her semi-final bout against Venezuela’s AMBC American Women’s Continental Champion Tayonis Cedeno.

Team of the day

The United States of America had five boxers in action on the third competition day in Tijuana, where all of their stars advanced towards the semi-finals.

Defending AIBA Women’s World Champion Marlen Esparza defeated Ingrid Valencia at flyweight (51 kg), before the phenomenal Claressa Shields outpointed Brazil’s South American Games winner Flavia Figueiredo.

Melik Elliston became the first US men’s boxer to reach the final four when he eliminated Carlos Chusin, while Antonio Vargas was too strong for Venezuela’s Beijing 2008 Olympian Eduard Bermudez.

The fifth US victory was delivered by Luis Feliciano, who had to be at his very best to eliminate Guatemala’s Carlos Tobar in their light welterweight (64 kg) quarter-final.

Surprise of the day

Bolivia’s Nadia Barriga competed in the last two editions of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, but she was surprisingly defeated by Nicaragua’s newcomer Claudia Parrales in Mexico.

The Bolivian boxer controlled the opening round, but a change of tactics from Parrales made all the difference in the remaining frame, and she claimed a remarkable medal for herself and her country.

One to watch

Clayton Laurent joined the Virgin Islands national team in 2007 at the age of 17, and is currently enjoying an excellent 2015 after success in the World Series of Boxing.

The super heavyweight (91+ kg) fighter knocked out Costa Rica’s Jose Gaitan in his first Panamerican Games Qualifier, and will now meet Bahamas’ new sensation Keishno Major in the semi-final.

Fact of the day

After the quarter-finals, 18 nations have secured at least one bronze medal in the Panamerican Games Qualifier.