Team USA came out swinging and didn’t bother taking names on the first day of the Olympic World Qualifier in Busto Arsizio, Italy. Roscoe Hill from Spring, Texas, and Alyssa Mendoza from Caldwell, Idaho, didn’t just step into the ring; they stormed it, edging closer to their Olympic aspirations without breaking a sweat.
Hill made short work of Turkmenistan’s Daniyar Rozmetov with a blend of agility and brute force, snagging a unanimous win with scores that had the judges practically handing him the victory on a silver platter. His dance around Rozmetov’s attempts at offense was nothing short of a masterclass in boxing, leaving him dominating the scorecards. Next up, Hill’s got a date with Trofimus Johannes from Namibia, and if the past is any indication, Johannes might want to take notes.
As the sun set, Mendoza stepped up and showed the featherweight division how it’s done by dismantling Mexico’s Jennifer Carrillo, a move that probably had Carrillo reconsidering her life choices. Mendoza’s right hooks were like seeking missiles, finding their target with terrifying precision and ending the fight quicker than you could say “Olympic dream.” She’s now set her sights on Japan’s Satsuki Yoshizawa, and if I were Yoshizawa, I’d start worrying.
USA Boxing Head Coach Billy Walsh couldn’t hide his glee, praising Roscoe and Alyssa’s stellar performances as if they had just reinvented the wheel. With such a kickoff, Team USA’s only fighter on day two, Robby Gonzales from Las Vegas, is all set to keep the victory train rolling against Eldric Sella from the IOC Refugee Team. If the trend continues, Sella might want to consider a hearty breakfast; he’s going to need it.
With eight fighters representing the stars and stripes, Team USA is not just in Italy for the pasta; they’re there to stamp their tickets to Paris 2024. Under the watchful eyes of a coaching squad that reads like a who’s who of American boxing, they’re looking to turn the qualifier into their personal highlight reel.
With over 600 boxers from 113 countries eyeing one of the 49 golden tickets to Paris, the competition is about as friendly as a shark tank. But if day one is anything to go by, Team USA seems more than ready to throw down the gauntlet and dare anyone to pick it up.
Day 1 Results:
51 kg: Roscoe Hill, Spring, Texas/USA, dec. over Daniyar Rozmetov/TKM, 5-0
57 kg: Alyssa Mendoza, Caldwell, Idaho/USA, won by RSC over. Jennifer Carrillo/MEX, RSC-1
Day 2 Schedule:
80 kg: Robby Gonzales, Las Vegas, Nev./USA, vs. Eldric Sella/BR