Day Seven

Team USA

Jamar Talley advances to quarterfinals – Talley is having quite a tournament with two wins already winning shutouts on the judges cards in each of his fights. That being said, he will fight one of the best guys in the tournament in his next fight in Enmanuel Reyes. Talley wins, he is a major player in boxing on the world level since Reyes was dropping fighters in the Olympics.

Obed Bartee-El to the quarterfinals – Obed Bartee-El started in boxing a long time ago, and has stuck with it, and now he is really good. Bartee-El has one of the most composed fighters, and beyond that, he is finding ways to win against opponents, and also shutting down what opponents do well. Bartee-El is looking incredible, and deserves respect. Bartee-El will fight Sarkhan Aliyev next.

Bantamweight

Akash Kumar, IND – The best Indian fighter I have seen thus far. A solid counter-puncher with good speed and a large frame the weight class. Kumar will face Yoel Finol, VEN, in the quarterfinals. One more win, and India has a medal. 

Michael Trinidade, BRA – Trinidade continues to impress me. A true professional fighting in an amateur world. Trinidade puts pressure and power on his opponents, and turned an aggressive fighter in Muhammet Saçlı into a backfoot boxer. Trinidade will face Makhmud Sabyrkhan, KAZ, in the quarterfinals. 

Jabali Breedy, BAR – A very pro-style fighter, who fights in close and compact. An offensive-first fighter, but a very tough and exciting one. With the right system, he could be extremely fun to watch. He will next be tested against Japan’s Tomoya Tsuboi, who is a points fighter.

Billal Bennama, FRA – The experience is showing for Bennama. He is well-schooled and has a large frame for the division. Though he is really solid, no elite traits stands out about him, which is odd for a world-level fighter. His next bout will be against Sanzhai Seidekmatov.

Lightweight

Abdumalik Khalokov, UZB – Khalokov might not be the type of fighter that I am most drawn to, but he is effective. Khalokov has won both of his fights 5-0 and now will face Vsevolod Shumkov of Russia in the quarterfinals. The winner will medal.

Edgaras Skurdelis, LIT – A really strong and very good fighter. I am expecting to see him in the medal rounds and honestly view him as having as good of a chance as anyone at coming in first place. He will face Danial Shahbakhsh of India next.

Sofiane Oumiha, FRA – Oumiha will always be around. An experienced vetaran, who is getting stronger as the tournament goes, should be in this tournament until the late stages. He next faces Samatali Toltayev.

Alexy de la Cruz, DMR – The wildcard of the bunch, de la Cruz is talented, and multi-facted, and has a style that is fun to watch. He faces Arslan Khataev of Finland next.

Cruiserweight

Victor Schelstraete, BEL – The most spectacular cruiserweight so far. A first-round KO, and then followed by a dominant point decision win in this round. Schelstaete will next face Conner Tudsbury in the quarterfinals. 

Herich Ruiz, CUB – Really polished and one of the Cuban fighters, who has really stood out to me as he has a good use of all ranges. He next faces Burak Aksin.

Loren Alfonso, AZE – Alfonso is a really good boxer who left Cuba to fight for another coutnry. Alfonso is capable of beating anyone on any day. His next bout is against Sharabutdin Ataev.

Havyweight

Julio César La Cruz, CUB – I view Cesar La Cruz as a deeply flawed pro fighter, but he is one of the best amateurs in the world. He loves to pull back and give opponents chances to land clean, but his footwork is a level above, and as long as he doesn’t get caught he is the guy to beat. His next fight is against Sadam Magomedov.

Enmanuel Reyes, SPA – Reyes is the other guy in this division and has a very pro ready style with good power, and solid punching range. He will face Jamar Talley in the next round.

Super Heavyweight

Narender Berwal, IND – Berwal has two wins both by way of referee stopping the contest. At super heavyweight, a professional division that is a hot bed, and Berwal who has plenty of power, he is someone to watch. His next bout will be tough against Mahammad Abdullayev.

Lazizbek Mullojonov, UZB – He beat my favorite in the tournament, Delicious Orie, and makes fights physical and dirty. Mullonjonov looks to be the person that will win this bracket. His next fight is against Davit Chaloyan of Armenia. 

Day Six

TEAM USA

Vershaun Lee, USA, light welterweight – Vershaun The Star – Vershaun Lee made his international debut in a major way, stopping his first opponent with a KO win, putting Lee on the world stage in his first fight. The celebration though will be short-lived as Lee will face the best current amateur boxer in the world, Andy Cruz of Cuba. If Lee beats him, meet the new face of USA Boxing.

Rahim Gonzales, USA, light heavyweight – Gonzales has superstar potential and showed attributes of some of his favorite fighters, mostly Roy Jones Jr. with his fast-hand speed in close and flurries. Gonzales should’ve been a 2020 Olympian, and now will be more than likely the captain of the 2024 Olympic team. Gonzales is a well-rounded fighter, who is getting better with each fight camp.

Jordan Panthan, USA, middleweight – I am not sure we will see much more of Jordan as an amateur, but it will be something that will motivate Panthan for years to come. In Panthan’s international debut he got to fight all of 30 seconds before a cut opened up over his eye. The referee waived the bout off and award his opponent a points decision based on the scorecards. Panthan will be a very fun pro to follow.

Miniumweight

With all due respect to all the fighters, I was very busy this weekend, and just couldn’t really focus on these bouts.

Light welterweight

Shiva Thapa, IND – One of the most experienced fighters in the tournament of any weight, Thapa, looks to be someone who will go very far, as his composure is different than most. Simply put he is relaxed in there, but not too relaxed. He fights Lounes Hamraoui of France in the next round. 

Denys Pesotskyy, UKR – Pesotskyy has an active lead hand, and stays busy. He is one to watch, his next bout is against Sanatali Toltayev of KAZ. 

Andy Cruz, CUB – Widely regarded as the best amateur boxer in the world, Cruz is looking to be the class of the division, but with USA’s Vershaun Lee getting a dramatic KO win, eyes are on that bout to see if the young American can dethrone, Cruz. 

Hovhannes Bachkov, ARM – Really tough, and phyiscal. A treat to watch. He is pro, but when he gets enough fights he will be a very fun TV fighter. I see him as another Arthur Abraham of sorts. His next bout is against Gianluigi Malanga of Italy. 

Middleweight

Diego Motoa, COL – In his two fights, Diego Motoa has stopped his two opponents. Motoa is looking like the man in the division, and showing no signs of slowing down. Motoa will now face Dzhambulat Bizhamov of Russia for his next bout. Let’s see if the streak continues.

Moreno Fendero, FRA – Fendero is one of the ones. A brutal KO in his last fight, which is his first of the tournament. A very good next bout awaits him as he faces Salvatore Cavallaro of Italy in his next contest. Fendero is a fighter I have my eye on to do things moving forward.

Yoenlis Hernández, CUB – Hernandez is a really good point fighter, and in the mold of many Cuban before him, and like many more than likely after him. Hernandez wins the rounds, and knows how to keep his distance in the process. His next bout will be interesting against Sumit of India, as he is also a good boxer in the same vein.