MIAMI, FLA. (February 6, 2016) -
Team USA's elite athletes put on an impressive performance
tonight in a battle with southern neighbor Mexico at the
Miccosukee Sports & Entertainment Dome in Miami. The USA
Knockouts squad bounced back from a week one loss with a 4-1
victory over the Mexico Guerreros in World Series of Boxing
action. Female flyweight Virginia Fuchs (Kemah, Texas) and
lightweight Mikaela Mayer (Los Angeles, Calif.) both won
unanimous decision victories before the WSB action began in
Miami.
"I think we did really well. It's
been a short time together with the men. The women were
excellent, really really good. Some of the performances today
were world class. We're building towards being a world class
team and trying to compete at a world class level," said coach
Billy Walsh. "I'm very happy with the performances tonight, it's
been a really great improvement over the last couple of weeks. I
know in a month's time we'll be at an Olympic qualifier in
Buenos Aires but today we're in a good state for that quest."
2016 Olympian Carlos Balderas (Santa Maria, Calif.) and 2015 Pan
American Games silver medalist Lindolfo Delgado were chosen to
close the night's action in a lightweight division battle. The
contest was a rematch from the 2015 Pan American Games where
Delgado eliminated Balderas in preliminary action. Yet the
second contest between the two talented boxers told a very
different tale. Balderas came out on a mission, landing strong
combinations and effective body shots throughout the bout. He
sent Delgado to the canvas in the first and third rounds on his
way to a unanimous decision victory and the fourth USA Knockouts
win of the night. "I trained a lot harder and a lot smarter
[than the last time.] I'd like to thank my family and my team
for pushing me not just physically but mentally. The fight is
won more mentally than physically," Balderas said. "I want to
thank everyone for supporting me and give a shout out to Santa
Cruz for giving me great sparring. The styles are very different
unlike in the United States where everyone is a little more
planted."
2015 Pan American Games champion Antonio Vargas (Kissimmee,
Fla.) made his World Series of Boxing debut in a flyweight
contest with the Mexico Guerreros' Orlando Huitzil. The Florida
resident put on a show for his home state fans, dominating the
match from bell to bell. He showed the skills that earned him
Pan American Games gold, peppering Huitzil with combinations
from every angle and flooring him to the delight of the crowd.
Vargas won the bout by a wide unanimous decision, taking all
five rounds on every judges' scorecard in a highly successful
WSB opener. "It was an easy fight. I was having fun and out
there doing my thing," Vargas said. "I think it's great
preparation for Rio. It's a little bit new with five rounds but
overall it was a great experience."
Light heavyweight Jonthan Esquivel (Anaheim, Calif.) competed in
his first WSB bout in a showdown with Pan American Games bronze
medalist Rogelio Romero. Esquivel didn't take long to get
comfortable in his World Series of Boxing debut, dictating the
pace and controlling his match throughout all five rounds. He
extended the winning streak he started at the Olympic Trials,
taking a 3-0 victory and sweeping every on the official
scorecards. "I feel blessed to be on the WSB stage and blessed
to represent the USA and I did it on my first fight," said
Esquivel. "This is definitely good preparation for Rio because
we're facing the top guys."
Brandon Lynch (Albany, N.Y.) was the first USA Knockout to
compete in Friday's competition, taking on former USA Boxing
National Championships medalist Elvis Garcia who's now
representing the Mexico Guerreros. Lynch claimed the first
victory of the night for his USA Knockouts, winning a 3-0
victory in the super heavyweight contest. "It was the first time
I went five rounds in a fight and it was pretty interesting.
After the third round, it was like a new territory but I toughed
it out," Lynch said. "It's my first international competition
against Mexico. I've seen that guy fight before in the Olympic
qualifiers and he was great then and he was great now. He's a
heavy hitter so thank God I was blocking those shots or I
would've gotten knocked out if I didn't. I'd like to say thanks
to all the people that trained me in Colorado Springs, they're
expertise is world renown."
Welterweight Paul Kroll (Philadelphia, Pa.) suffered the lone
loss of the night for the United States in a razor-close bout
with the Mexico Guerreros' Fernando Armenta. The two battled in
a close contest over five rounds with each boxer enjoying their
share of strong moments. At the end of the five rounds, Armenta
was named the winner by split decision.
The two American women competing
in Friday night's action set a winning tone for their male
counterparts in the two opening bouts at the Miccosukee Sports
and Entertainment Dome. Fuchs faced off with Mexico's top
flyweight Sulem Urbina in the first match of the night on
Friday. Fuchs entered the bout on quite a run having put on gold
medal performances at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials and Olympic
Test Event in Rio de Janeiro. Fuchs continued her winning streak
in her 2016 opener, claiming a unanimous decision victory over
Urbina and giving Team USA their first win of the night. "It was
really exciting being on a WSB card, it was a first for women. I
was very happy with my performance," Fuchs said. "I listened to
my corner really well and I performed really well. It was really
good practice for the qualifiers and I know I'm ready for it."
Mayer's competed in a lightweight match-up with 2015 Pan
American Games bronze medalist Victoria Torres of Mexico in the
battle of neighboring nations. The American lightweight utilized
her boxing skills to outwit Torres over their four round bout.
She notched victory two of the night with a 3-0 victory over
Torres to send the men in to the ring with strong American
momentum. "I think the bout went pretty good, I felt in control.
She's a pretty aggressive fighter and I had a few tangled up
moments but for the most part I feel like I won every round,"
Mayer said. "I'm hoping to fight on more WSB cards. I know
they're looking to put the women in so hopefully that'll happen
soon."
Coaches Billy Walsh (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Israel Acosta
(Milwaukee, Wis.), Kevin Greene (Ozark, Ala.), and Joe Guzman
(Colorado Springs, Colo.) led the American squad in week two
World Series of Boxing competition on Friday.
The USA Knockouts will return to action in an away match with
the Morocco Atlas Lions on February 19 in Casablanca, Morocco.
Results
114 lbs/male: Antonio Vargas, Kissimmee, Fla./USA dec. Orlando
Huitzil, Mexico, 3-0 (50-45), (50-44), (50-44)
132 lbs/male: Carlos Balderas, Santa Maria, Calif./USA dec.
Lindolfo Delgado, 3-0 (49-46), 49-46), (49-46)
152 lbs/male: Fernando Armenta, Mexico, dec. Paul Kroll,
Philadelphia, Pa./USA. 2-1(48-47 x 2 for Armenta), (48-47 for
Kroll)
178 lbs/male: Jonathan Esquivel, Anaheim, Calif./USA dec.
Rogelio Romero, Mexico, 3-0 (50-45), (50-45), (50-45)
201+ lbs/male: Brandon Lynch, Albany, N.Y./USA dec. Elvis
Garcia, Mexico, 3-0 (49-46), (49-46), (48-47)
112 lbs/female: Virginia Fuchs, Kemah, Texas/USA dec. Sulem
Urbina, Mexico, 3-0
132 lbs/female: Mikaela Mayer, Los Angeles, Calif./USA dec.
Victoria Torres, Mexico, 3-0
