The 2023 Last Chance Qualifier is the boxing world’s countdown timer, as it represents the final window for boxers to punch their tickets for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials happening in Lafayette, La come December. The stage is set in Pueblo, expecting a roaring crowd for close to 400 fighters hailing from all over the U.S. The first bell rings on Monday, Sept. 11, at the Pueblo Convention Center.
Kevin Ortiz, the General Manager of the Pueblo Convention Center, expressed his enthusiasm, “Having USA Boxing back in our ring, showcasing the cream of the crop from the amateur boxing scene, is always a pleasure. It’s an honor that Pueblo was chosen for this monumental event. Our bond with USA Boxing? Rock solid. We’re lacing up for a spectacular week of bouts.”
Mike McAtee, the frontman for USA Boxing as its Executive Director, chimed in with, “Pueblo’s energy and passion for Olympic-style amateur boxing are unmatched. This event is just a sneak peek of the U.S. talent as we gear up for December’s Olympic Trials and, eventually, the summer Olympics in Paris.”
Colorado will march in with a squad of 25 fighters, and out of them, 17 call either Colorado Springs or Pueblo their home turf. The spotlight will definitely shine on local stars like Amelia Moore, who’s donned the U.S. colors twice for the World Championships; Lupe Gutierrez, the champ from the 2015 Junior World and 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials; and the young gun, Troy Nash, fresh from his 2023 USA Boxing Summer Festival victory, as he steps into the elite class.
The Qualifier will spread over six days, hosting fights for both the lads and ladies. Youth category, which includes fighters aged 17 to 18, and the elite category for those between 19 to 39, will be showcased. Fight fans should brace for two sessions daily, one at noon and another at 6 p.m. from Monday to Thursday. However, for Friday and Saturday, the bouts will only be held at noon.
Want to be ringside for the action? Grab your tickets online or on the spot at the venue. Prices are a knockout deal, with $10 for daily access, $50 for the whole week, and a special $25 ticket for the Saturday finals.