Team USA’s boxing squad is tearing it up in Busto Arsizio, Italy, at the 2024 Olympic Games World Qualifier Tournament, keeping their winning streak alive and kicking through the first three days. Emilio Garcia from Laredo, Texas, and Omari Jones from Orlando, Florida, both notched up some slick wins, cruising into the next round like it’s just another day at the office.
Garcia stepped into the ring and showed Ahmad Shtiwi from Israel how it’s done, schooling him with some snappy combos while taking cues from his corner team in the blue corner. He bagged the first round with a clean sweep on the judges’ cards. Shtiwi tried to shake things up in round two, but Garcia wasn’t having any of it, landing right hooks like they were going out of style and snagging the round 4-1. Shtiwi might have clawed back a bit in the final round, but it was all for naught as Garcia clinched the unanimous win.
Next up for Garcia is a showdown with Erislandy Alvarez from Cuba, the 2023 World Championships silver medalist with a shiny 3-0 pro record and a trophy cabinet crammed with international bling. These two are set to throw down on Thursday, March 7.
Jones had to cool his heels until the end of the day but wrapped things up in style against Allaksandr Radzionau, a neutral athlete with 2020 Olympic creds. Jones dominated from the get-go, peppering Radzionau with jabs and one-twos to pocket the first round. He dialed it up in round two with some thumping body jabs and fancy footwork, sweeping the judges’ cards again and wrapping up another unanimous decision win for Team USA.
Jones is now slated to take on Mohamed Rachem from Belgium, fresh off a split decision win, on the same Thursday showdown as Garcia.
Day four of the competition is gonna see Roscoe Hill from Spring, Texas, stepping back into the ring against Namibia’s Trofimus for his second fight, while 2020 Olympian Naomi Graham from Fayetteville, N.C., is gearing up for her tournament debut.
With eight boxers flying the flag for Team USA, led by National Head Coach Billy Walsh and his crew, they’re all eyeing up spots for the 2024 Paris Olympics. And let’s not forget, this tournament is massive – over 600 boxers from 113 countries duking it out for one of the 49 golden tickets to Paris.
Day 3 Results
63.5 kg: Emilio Garcia, Laredo, Texas/USA, dec. over Ahmad Shtiwi/ISR, 5-0
71 kg: Omari Jones, Orlando, Fla./USA, dec. over Aliaksandr Radzionau/INA, 5-0
Day 4 Schedule
51 kg: Roscoe Hill, Spring, Texas/USA, vs. Trofimus Johannes/NAM
75 kg: Naomi Graham, Fayetteville, N.C./USA, vs. Cindy Ngamba/BRT