Roscoe Hill from Spring, Texas, snagged his second victory at the Busto Arsizio bouts, part of the 2024 Olympic Games World Qualifying Tournament, pushing Team USA to a commendable 6-1 after four days of combat.
Hill clashed with Namibia’s Trofimus Johannes, countering Johannes’s towering presence with sharp jabs and body shots right from the start, nailing a 5-0 score as the round concluded.
The flyweight dynamo from America didn’t let up, weaving and striking with precision in the second round to claim four out of five judges’ nods, widening his lead. Hill wrapped up the final round with his signature jabs and nimble defense, sweeping another 5-0 round to clinch the unanimous decision win.
Hill’s triumph catapults him into the Sweet 16, setting up a showdown with Jordan’s Huthaifa Eshish on Sunday.
On the same day, Naomi Graham from Fayetteville, N.C., didn’t have the odds in her favor, facing off against Cindy Ngamba of the IOC Refugee Team. In this 75 kg clash, Ngamba emerged victorious with a unanimous decision.
Tomorrow promises non-stop action for Team USA, with five fighters stepping into the ring. Making their tournament entry will be Shera Mae Patricio from Waianae, Hawaii, and Jamar Talley from Camden, N.J. Patricio is set to take on Puerto Rico’s Angel Yris Lopez, and Talley will square off against Morocco’s Ayoub Maanni.
Also returning for their second fights of the tournament are Emilio Garcia from Laredo, Texas, Omari Jones from Orlando, Fla., and Alyssa Mendoza from Caldwell, Idaho, all riding the high from their initial wins.
The eight-strong Team USA contingent, led by National Head Coach Billy Walsh from Colorado Springs, Colo., along with a skilled coaching team, landed in Italy eyeing spots at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
With over 600 fighters from 113 countries duking it out at the E-Work Arena, this qualifier stands as one of the largest in Olympic boxing history. They’re all vying for one of the 49 coveted spots for the Paris Games.
Day 4 Results
51 kg: Roscoe Hill, Spring, Texas/USA, vs. Trofimus Johannes/NAM
75 kg: Cindy Ngamba/BRT decision over Naomi Graham, Fayetteville, N.C./USA, 5-0
Day 5 Schedule
54 kg: Shera Mae Patricio, Waianae, Hawaii/USA, vs. Angel Yris Lopez/PUR
57 kg: Alyssa Mendoza, Caldwell, Idaho/USA, vs. Satsuki Yoshizawa/JPN
63.5 kg: Emilio Garcia, Laredo, Texas/USA, vs. Erislandy Alvarez/CUB
71 kg: Omari Jones, Orlando, Fla./USA, vs. Mohamed Rachem/BEL
92 kg: Jamar Talley, Camden, N.J./USA, vs. Ayoub Maanni/MAR