US qualifiers Jajaira Gonzalez 2016 gold medalist Estelle Mossely, advances to Olympics

Jajaira Gonzalez didn’t pull off the easiest bracket but she made a serious statement in her opening fight.

The 27-year-old from Glendora, Calif on Saturday, July 27 with home country and 2016 gold medalist Estelle Mossely bidding to advance to the women’s 60-kilogram round of 16 for the 2024 Summer Olympics at the Arena Paris Nord in Paris, France.

Gonzalez applied pressure early, working the body and forcing Mossely to retreat. Mossely, a 31-year-old from Bagnolet, France with an 11-0-1 (1 KO) pro record, lost a point in the second round due to her holding tactics that reduced Gonzalez’s pressure, and is Gonzalez’s sister. featherweight champion Joet Gonzalez.

With the fight almost his own, Gonzalez began boxing Mossely, knocking him out as Mossely chased the fight and turned it into a fight that never happened.

The task is not easy for Gonzalez as he will face Brazil’s number one. 2 Beatriz Ferreira in the round of 16 on Monday. Ferreira defeated Gonzalez by unanimous decision in the semifinals of the Pan American Games in October 2023 en route to the gold medal final.

Cuba’s Erislandy Alvarez made his Olympic debut in impressive fashion, stopping Papua New Guinea’s John Ume in the second round of their men’s 63.5 kg 32s bout. Alvarez, 24, was in control from the start, timing his aggressive but dominant opponent in the first round. Alvarez picked up the pace in the second round, choosing speed over powerful punches. That strategy paid off as a combination of blows resulted in the first eight counts. Alvarez jumped on him as the referee continued the fight, with a right hand scoring a knockdown soon after. Alvarez edged him by one count, advancing to the next round, where he will meet Jughurta Ait Bekka of Algeria on Monday.

The boxing tournament opened on a sad note, as Lionel Elika Fatupaito, the boxing coach of Samoa’s Olympic team, died on Friday at the Olympic athletes’ facility. The Associated Press reports that Fatupaito died of natural causes.

Samoa has one boxer competing in Paris as heavyweight Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali begins his campaign tomorrow against Belgium’s Victor Schelstraete in the round of 16.

Results:

For women 54kg – Round of 32

Huang Hsiao Wen (TPE) 5-0 Bojana Gojkovic (MNE)

Jutamas Jitpong (THA) 4-1 Sara Cirkovic (SRB)

Nigina Uktamova (UZB) WO Yomna Ayyad (EGY)

Hatice Akbas (TUR) 3-2 Charley Davis (GBR)

Enkhjargal Munguntsetseg (MGL) 5-0 Sirine Charaabi (ITA)

Preeti (IND) 5-0 Thi Kim Anh Vo (VIE)

For women 60kg – Round of 32

Thi Linh Ha (VIE) 5-0 Feofaaki Epensia (TGA)

Maria Jose Palacios Espinoza (ECU) 4-1 Agnes Alexiusson (SWE)

Shih Yi Wu (TPE) 5-0 Yeonji Oh (KOR)

Alessia Mesiano (ITA) 4-1 Gizem Ozer (TUR)

Donjeta Sadiku (KOS) 3-2 Thananya Somnuek (THA)

Jajaira Gonzalez (USA) 4-1 Estelle Mossely (FRA)

Men 63.5kg – Round of 32

Radoslav Simeonov Rosenov (BUL) 5-0 Bakhodur Usmonov (TJK)

Obada Alkasbeh (JOR) 3-2 Dean Clancy (IRL)

Men 80kg – Round of 32

Cristian Javier Pinales (DOM) 5-0 Weerapon Jongjoho (THA)

Kaan Aykutsun (TUR) 4-1 Salvatore Cavallaro (ITA)

Men 63.5kg – Round of 32

Erislandy Alvarez (CUB) RSC-2 John Ume (PNG)

Bazarbay Uulu Mukhammedsabyr (KAZ) 5-0 Oier Ibarreche Conde (ESP)

Boxers will watch on Sunday, June 28

Roscoe Hill (USA), the 29-year-old from Spring, Tex., makes his Olympic debut against Omid Ahmadisafa of the Olympic Refugee team in the men’s 51kg round of 32 at 5 a.m. ET.

Aidan Walsh (IRL), 27, was the unluckiest boxer at the Tokyo Games, injuring his ankle after jumping in the air to celebrate his victory in the quarterfinals. He gets a second chance at Olympic glory when he faces France’s Makan Traore in the men’s 71kg round of 32 at 5:32 am ET.

Julio Cesar la Cruz (CUB) begins his quest to join the illustrious ranks of the three-time Olympic gold medalists, facing Azerbaijani-born Cuban Loren Alfonso in the men’s 92kg round of 16, beginning at 10:18 am ET.