Robby Gonzales from Las Vegas, Nevada, continued Team USA’s successful run with a unanimous decision win over Eldric Sella from the Boxing Refugee Team on the second day of the competition in Busto Arsizio, Italy.
Winning gold at the 2021 Elite World Championships, Gonzales displayed his strength right from the start against 2020 Olympian Sella. He utilized his jab and agility to establish an early lead.
In the light heavyweight division, the American boxer maintained his initial advantage in the early moments of the second round, delivering a powerful overhand to dictate the fight’s tempo. Despite a quick knockdown by Sella, Gonzales quickly recovered, responding with several effective combinations and body shots, leading to the referee issuing an eight-count against Sella towards the round’s end.
Leading the scorecards in the final round, Gonzales leveraged his speed and combination punches to dominate Sella, clinching the unanimous decision victory.
Reflecting on his win, Gonzales shared his journey of resilience and determination, highlighting his comeback after an initial setback at the Pan American Games. He emphasized his readiness to face challenges and secure his spot at the top.
Gonzales is set to face Andrej Csemez from Slovakia, a bronze medalist from the 2019 European Games, in his next bout on Friday.
Additionally, Emilio Garcia from Laredo, Texas, and Omari Jones from Orlando, Florida, are scheduled to compete in tomorrow’s session.
The USA team, comprising eight boxers, is competing in Italy with the goal of qualifying for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The team is under the guidance of USA Boxing Head Coach Billy Walsh, National Resident Coach Timothy Nolan, National Development Coach Chad Wigle, and assistant coaches Adonis Frazier and Christine Lopez.
The tournament features over 600 boxers from 113 countries, all vying for one of the 49 available spots for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.