The USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team concluded day three of the 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok, Thailand, and did so in tremendous fashion with five wins from its five competitors on Tuesday\u2019s schedule. Team USA captured its second undefeated day of the tournament, bringing the roster\u2019s overall record to 9-1 across the first three days of competition.<\/p>\n
Starting things off for the United States on Tuesday was Ruby Lopez (women\u2019s 51 kg | Napa, Calif.) against South Korea\u2019s Jiwon Hong. The California native earned her first international and tournament win after claiming each judge\u2019s card, earning a unanimous decision with five 30-27 scorecards. Lopez advances to the Round of 16 to face India\u2019s Chandrika Bhoreshi Pujari.<\/p>\n
After Lopez, Guadalupe Ruiz (women\u2019s 54 kg | Anaheim, Calif.) and Refugio Veloz (men\u2019s 50 kg | Atwater, Calif.) each secured their second wins of the tournament. Ruiz earned a unanimous decision victory over Colombia\u2019s Evelin Trejos, and Veloz secured his second victory of the tournament with an RSC in round one over Botswana\u2019s Lefa Sanzo Dithebe.<\/p>\n
Ruiz set the tone early in her bout, earning 10-8 scores from three judges before securing four 10-8 scores in the third round, bringing three 30-25 scores, one 30-26 score, and one 30-27 score. She advances to the quarterfinals of her division to face Egypt\u2019s Hajer Wahba.<\/p>\n
Veloz made quick work of his Botswana opponent and closed the show in the opening 23 seconds of the bout. From the opening bell, he chased down Dithebe and connected on a flurry of punches that forced the referee to announce the stoppage. Veloz advances to the Round of 16 in his bracket and will meet Ukraine\u2019s Mykhailo Syorenko in his next bout.<\/p>\n
The last American to step in the ring on Tuesday was Ciana Nonhphala (women\u2019s 48 kg | Providence, R.I.), who defeated the Philippines\u2019 Shairylle Pores in the Round of 32 matchup. The Rhode Island native won every judge\u2019s card in the first and third rounds, securing her first international and tournament victory and the United States\u2019 third unanimous decision of the day. Nonhphala advances to the Round of 16, where she will face Azerbaijan\u2019s Gular Huseynova.<\/p>\n
Also earning a win on Tuesday was Kaylee Aguilar (women\u2019s 60 kg | Houston, Texas), who won via walkover against Senegal\u2019s Nd\u00e8ye Fatou Ndao. Aguilar advances to the Round of 16 to face Uzbekistan\u2019s Rushanabonu Isoeva.<\/p>\n
Team USA will have four boxers step into the ring on Wednesday, beginning with Christian Paez (men\u2019s 55 kg | San Antonio, Texas), who will face Ecuador\u2019s Erick Aucatoma. Asante Lamar (Men\u2019s 70 kg | Cincinnati, Ohio) will face Bangladesh\u2019s Tripura Jani, followed by Refugio Veloz versus Ukraine\u2019s Mykhailo Sydorenko. Asaan Jenkins (Men\u2019s 65 kg | Washington, D.C.) will close the day for Team USA against Georgia\u2019s Luka Chikhikvadze.<\/p>\n
The USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team is led by National Development Coach Edward Fonteneaux (Fayetteville, N.C.). Fonteneaux will be assisted throughout the tournament by High Performance Pool coaches, including Holly Gregson (Idaho Falls, Idaho), Jason Hamilton (Spanaway, Wash.), Yessenia Montalvo (Bloomfield, N.J.), and Ronald Wright (Columbus, Ga.).<\/p>\n