CALI, COLOMBIA – The first ever Junior Pan American Games gets underway tomorrow at the Coliseo Luis Ignacio Alvarez in Cali, Colombia for the 13 boxers who will represent Team USA, Nov. 26 – Dec. 1.
Julius Ballo (San Diego, Calif.), the 2021 Pan American Games Qualifier 57 kg champion, will face Lucas Conoe of Uruguay, while Quincey Williams (Washington, D.C.) takes on Puerto Rico’s Angel Llanos, to begin competition for the Americans during tomorrow’s session scheduled to begin 2:00 p.m. EST.
Kayla Gomez (El Paso, Texas), Jesikah Guerra (Victorville, Calif.), Joel Iriarte (Bakersfield, Calif.), Faith Mendez (Ocala, Fla.), Steven Navarro (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Jewry Rodriguez (Houston, Texas) received byes for tomorrow’s first round to advance to the second round of their bracket. Navarro will begin competition on Saturday, while Gomez, Iriarte, Mendez and Rodriguez will make their tournament debut on Sunday.
Joining Guerra and Navarro on Saturday will be Santiago Franco (Portland, Ore.), Sativa James (Dixon, Calif.) and Donte Layne (Elmont, N.Y.).
The remaining members of Team USA, Ali Almajdi (Arlington, Texas) and Ali Feliz (Danbury, Conn.), will begin their tournament early next week.
Day 1 Schedule
57 kg: Julius Ballo, San Diego, Calif./USA, vs. Lucas Conoe/URU
69 kg: Quincey Williams, Washington, D.C./USA, vs. Angel Llanos/PUR