The Panamerican Sports Festival was recently held in Mexico City, where both North and South America’s top boxers competed for the medals.

Nations such as Cuba, the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Puerto Rico all sent participants to the Panamerican Sports Festival.

Athlete of the tournament
Mexico’s Joselito Velasquez made his name in the world of boxing in 2011, when he claimed a gold medal at the Panamerican Games in Guadalajara defeating Cuba’s Yosbany Veitia in the final.

The 21-year-old Light Flyweight class (49 kg) boxer has accumulated more experience at international level since the Guadalajara event, and showed his developing skills in Mexico City.

He defeated Dominican Republic’s AMBC American Continental Championships silver medallist Leonel De Los Santos in the semi-final, and beat Colombia’s quick Yubergen Martinez in the final.

Team of the tournament
The Mexican squad claimed five gold medals in their home tournament, ahead of the United States who bagged four top positions in Mexico City.

Mexico competed with their best line-up in the event, and their strong squad was rewarded with an additional six silver medals.

Elias Emigdio is a strong member of the Flyweight class (52 kg) in the World Series of Boxing, and he defeated Puerto Rico’s AMBC American Youth Continental Champion Orlando Gonzalez and Colombia’s London 2012 Olympian Ceiber David Avila in the event.

Mexico’s Lightweight class (60 kg) number one Lindolfo Delgado advanced to the last 16 in the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Almaty, and secured a further gold for the Central American country following his triumph over Ecuador’s experienced Luis Porozo.

Marvin Cabrera and Rogelio Romero took Mexico’s fourth and fifth gold medals in the Panamerican Sports Festival.

Surprise of the tournament
Brazil’s three-time Olympian Myke Carvalho was seeded second at the 2011 AIBA World Boxing Championships in Baku, and has moved up two weight classes since then.

31-year-old Carvalho is a relative newcomer in the Middleweight class (75 kg), so therefore his triumph over Colombia’s defending AMBC American Continental Champion Jorge Vivas was a small surprise.

Carvalho is planning to take part in the upcoming Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and his success here will give him confidence that he can make his fourth Games in a row.

Ones to watch in the future
Brazil’s Sportaccord World Combat Games winner Joedison Teixeira is famous for his footwork and quick attacks, in spite of his relative lack of experience.

The 20-year-old Brazilian Light Welterweight class (64 kg) boxer advanced to the final in Mexico City, where he had to meet with the host nation’s WSB athlete Juan Pablo Romero.

Teixeira underlined his potential with an impressive split decision victory, as a result of his excellent technique.

Stat/fact of the tournament
The United States claimed all of the three gold medals in the women’s section of the Panamerican Sports Festival.

Their amazing trio, London 2012 Olympic Games bronze medallist Marlen Esparza, Sportaccord World Combat Games winner Queen Underwood and London 2012 Olympic Games Champion Claressa Shields won all of their contests, and asserted their dominance over the rest of the field.

Among the developing boxing nations of the region, Barbados, Guatemala and Panama also took home medals in the event.

Gold medal winners in the Panamerican Sports Festival
Women’s 51 kg: Marlen Esparza, United States
Women’s 60 kg: Queen Underwood, United States
Women’s 75 kg: Claressa Shields, United States
49 kg: Joselito Velasquez, Mexico
52 kg: Elias Emigdio, Mexico
56 kg: Hector Luis Garcia, Dominican Republic
60 kg: Lindolfo Delgado, Mexico
64 kg: Joedison Teixeira, Brazil
69 kg: Marvin Cabrera, Mexico
75 kg: Myke Carvalho, Brazil
81 kg: Rogelio Romero, Mexico
91 kg: Frank Sanchez, Cuba
+91 kg: Lenroy “Cam Awesome” Thompson, United Stated

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