SOFIA, Bulgaria – The USA Boxing The Elite High Performance Team continued its strong performance on day two of the International Strandja Boxing Tournamentmaking it four more wins on Tuesday in Sofia.
Three Americans advanced to the quarterfinals, while another advanced to the Round of 16, as Team USA kept its momentum going in one of the sport’s most prestigious international tournaments.
Perez records first victory for women
Yoseline Perez (Houston, Texas) wasted no time in making her mark in the women’s 54kg division. Building on her success from last year’s tournament, Perez dominated Germany’s Tatjana Obermeier from start to finish.
Perez earned a unanimous 5-0 decision and underlined her performance with an eight-count in the third round, putting her in firm control of the fight. The Houston native now advances to the quarterfinals, where she will face Kazakhstan’s Zhaina Shekerbekova on Thursday, February 26.
Luther and Awinongya shine in international debuts
On the men’s side, two athletes from Team USA made a statement-making international debut.
Marcus Luther (Washington, DC) showed composure and strength in the 65kg division. After winning the first round 5-0 – including a 10-8 score from one judge – Luther increased his pace in the second round. A perfectly timed right hook against Turkey’s Yigit Us forced the referee to stop the match, awarding Luther the win via RSC in the second round. He will now face Yertugan Zeinulinov from Kazakhstan in the quarter-finals.
Joseph Awinongya (Joliet, Ill.) was equally dominant in the 90kg division. The Illinois native controlled every round against Romania’s Jorge Luis Mayeta, earning a 5-0 unanimous decision. Awinongya advances to the quarter-finals and will meet Daulet Tulemissov of Kazakhstan on Friday, February 27.
Patricio secures second victory
Lorenzo Patricio (Waianae, Hawaii) took his second win of the tournament in the 55kg division.
After narrowly beating Michael Trindade of Brazil 3-2 on Monday, Patricio put in another composed performance in the round of 16 on Tuesday, winning the opening round 4-1 against Timur Kabdeshov of Kazakhstan and closing the fight with another 4-1 decision.
Patricio now advances to face Uzbekistan’s Samandar Olimov in Friday’s quarterfinals.
Lozano falls in tournament opener
Jennifer Lozano (Laredo, Texas) opened her tournament against Feruza Kazakova of Uzbekistan in the women’s 51 kg division.
Lozano kept the match competitive and entered the final round trailing only 2-1 on the scorecards. Despite her late efforts, she ultimately dropped a 4-1 decision.
Six more Americans will take action on Wednesday
Team USA returns to the ring Wednesday, February 25, with six athletes on the schedule, including four tournament debuts.
Captain of the day is team captain and 2024 Summer Olympics Olympian Alyssa Mendoza (Caldwell, Idaho), who will face Nomin-Erdene Tugsjargal of Mongolia in session one.
Alisha Crockett (Phoenix, Arizona) will make her international debut against Rimma Volossenko of Kazakhstan, while Marie-Angelis Rosendo (Deland, Florida) will face Laura Yessenkeldi of Kazakhstan.
On the men’s side, Salim Ellis-Bey (Philadelphia, Pa.) meets Armenian Artur Bazeyan, Robby Gonzales (Las Vegas, Nev.) takes on Brazil’s Wanderley Pereira, and Kelvin Watts opens his tournament in the 90+kg division against Germany’s Younes Ouchaou.
Each round of the 77th Strandja Tournament will be broadcast live on the official event page, with updates and match reports available through USA Boxing.
Ladies 54kg: Yoseline Perez (USA) def. Tatjana Obermeier (DU) – W 5-0
Women’s 51kg: Jennifer Lozano (USA) vs Feruza Kazakova (UZB) – L 4-1
Men 55kg: Lorenzo Patricio (USA) def. Timur Kabdeshov (KAZ) – W 4-1
Men 65 kg: Marcus Luther (USA) defeated. Yigit Us (TUR) – W RSC-2
Men 90kg: Joseph Awinongya (USA) def. Jorge Luis Mayeta (ROU) – W 5-0
Women’s 57kg: Alyssa Mendoza vs. Nomin-Erdene Tugsjargal (MGL) – ~8:00 am
Women’s 60kg: Alisha Crockett vs. Rimma Volossenko (KAZ) – ~9:00
Men’s 60kg: Salim Ellis-Bey vs. Artur Bazeyan (ARM) – ~10:30
Women’s 65kg: Marie-Angelis Rosendo vs. Laura Yessenkeldi (KAZ) – ~11.30 am
Men’s 80kg: Robby Gonzales vs. Wanderley Pereira (BRA) – ~12:30
Men’s 90+kg: Kelvin Watts vs. Younes Ouchaou (GER) – ~1 p.m
Roberto Villa is the CEO, founder, executive writer and senior editor of FightBook MMA. Has a passion for martial arts and is also a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He is also a former MMA fighter and kickboxer. He is also the chief photographer of the 4CornersMafia Car Club.
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