BoxingFight Previews

Get To Know The 2020 U.S. Olympic Games Boxing Qualification Team

USA Boxing announced today the 13 boxers who will represent Team USA at the upcoming 2020 Olympic Games Tokyo Boxing Qualification Events, as well as the 13 alternates. A full list can be seen below. The team was announced following the two-stage qualification process that began in December at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Boxing in Lake Charles and concluded at the recent 2020 Strandja Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria. The full athlete selection procedure can be seen here.

A quick summary of what occurred and what will happen moving forward. The best fighters in the country who placed first and second in one of four national tournaments fought at the Olympic Trials in December. The top two from the Olympic Trials went to a training camp at the Olympic Training Center and then fought at the 2020 Strandja Tournament.

The representatives were not solely picked based on the Olympic Trials qualifications, but a portfolio perspective of looking at the sum of all parts to pick their candidates

Moving forward, the U.S. Olympic representatives will have two chances to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo with The America’s Qualification tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina from March 26- April 3rd and the World Qualifier in Paris from May 13th-24.

Below are the USA Boxing Olympic Qualification Team

51 kg: Virginia Fuchs, Houston, Texas – One of the best bets to get a medal in the Olympic Games for Team U.S.A., Fuchs is the most experienced fighter on the U.S. side with a large amount of international experience, as well as an aggressive southpaw style that should fair well in international competition.

52 kg: Anthony Herrera, Los Angeles, Calif – Edgar Jasso’s prodigy, Anthony Herrera, may have lost at the Olympic Trials to Abraham Perez, but a strong training camp, and a good showing internationally secured him the spot. Herrera throws very straight punches and has an excellent right hand with his only flaw being at times he can get stuck against a quality mover.

.57 kg: Andrea Medina, San Diego, Calif. – Andrea Medina lost in the box-off on Monday to Lupe Gutierrez, but it appears that international competition is being weighted more so as Medina gets the nod to represent the U.S. after winning a silver medal at the Strandja Tournament. Medina is chasing her Olympic dream while being enrolled in college.

57 kg: Bruce Carrington, Brooklyn, N.Y. – A veteran of all things Team U.S.A. Boxing, Carrington is a solid boxer, who has been touted highly for years, and came from the eighth-seed at the Olympic Trials to win the whole tournament. Carrington has fast hands and when focused shows elements of being a superstar in the amateurs, and at the next level, the pros.

60 kg: Rashida Ellis, Lynn, Mass. – Ellis has been dominating her division in the United States, and it is no wonder since boxing is a family affair for her. Her brothers, Rashidi Ellis and Ronald Ellis are both top-tier professionals in the running for world titles in their own right.

63 kg: Keyshawn Davis, Norfolk, Va. – One of the key pieces to U.S.A. Boxing currently, as Davis is viewed as a true blue-chip prospect boxer with enormous upside. Davis is a tremendous boxer, who is slick, but also able to walk down opponent and land seemingly at will. Davis is someone to keep your eye on during all aspects of the qualification and the Olympic Games.

69 kg: Oshae Jones, Toledo, Ohio – The most dominant member of Team U.S.A. Boxing is Oshae Jones, a member of the legendary Jones family, who run the Soul City Boxing Gym in Toledo, Ohio. Oshae has won gold at the Pan-Am Games as well as the Strandja Tournament and will be my favorite to win the gold at the 2020 Olympic Games as well.

69 kg: Delante Johnson, Cleveland, Ohio – “Tiger” Johnson is a tremendous boxer, who fights up to his level of competition. Johnson will be a great pro, and has all the elements to be one of United States’ best chances to win a medal.

75 kg: Naomi Graham, Fayetteville, N.C. – Naomi Graham just constantly wins. In fact, Graham wins so much it goes unnoticed. Graham’s last loss in America was in 2015 to former world champion Franchon Crews-Dezurn, the rest of her losses have come from international competition.

75 kg: Joseph Hicks, Grand Rapids, Mich. – One of the strangest stories was how Javier Martinez, seemingly a shoo-in to make the U.S. team, and beat Hicks at the Olympic Trials, was left off the team for Hicks. Hicks is a great boxer, who has rapidly improved over the past year, but this was probably the most shocking choice on the list.

81 kg: Rahim Gonzales, Las Vegas, Nev. – Rahim Gonzales might be the most diverse fighter in terms of this Olympic squad based on his variety of attacks. Gonzales can outbox someone, and knock someone out. In boxing it is rare you see both, and now times that by a million since it is the amateurs, in which that is truly rare.

91 kg: Darius Fulghum, Houston, Texas – The true Cinderella story of the qualification process was Darius Fulghum, the eighth-seed, who defeated all in his way to make the U.S. team. A registered nurse, who graduated with his degree just this year, had an amazing 2019 and hopes to carry that into 2020.

91+ kg: Richard Torrez Jr., Tulare, Calf. – Richard Torrez Jr. was unable to compete at the 2019 Olympic Trials, but a win over Jeremiah Milton followed by a strong training camp performance and extensive international experience saw Torrez Jr. get the nod. Torrez Jr. is a very exciting heavyweight who will look to challenge for a medal.

USA Boxing Olympic Qualification Team Alternates

51 kg: Christina Cruz, Hell’s Kitchen, N.Y.

52 kg: Abraham Perez, Albuquerque, N.M.

57 kg: Lupe Gutierrez, Sacramento, Calif.

57 kg: David Navarro, Los Angeles, Calif.

60 kg: Amelia Moore, Alexandria, Va.

63 kg: Ernesto Mercado, Pomona, Calif.

69 kg: Briana Che, Madison, Wisc.

69 kg: Freudis Rojas Jr., Dallas, Texas

75 kg: Morelle McCane, Cleveland, Ohio

75 kg: Javier Martinez, Milwaukee, Wisc.

81 kg: Atif Oberlton, Philadelphia, Pa

.91 kg: Jamar Talley, Camden, N.J.

91+ kg: Antonio Mireles, Des Moines, Iowa

Previous post

Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury II PPV Undercard Announced

Next post

Boxing returns to San Mateo Saturday, headlined by Willie Shaw

Lukie Ketelle

Lukie Ketelle