(OCT 25) BUDVA, Montenegro — The USA Boxing
Youth High Performance Team expanded its medal count at the 2026 World Boxing
U19 Championships, powered by quarterfinal victories from team captain Lauryn
Elmore and 51 kg standout Ruby Lopez. Both California natives staged dramatic
come-from-behind wins to secure their spots in the semifinal rounds and
guarantee themselves at least a bronze medal on the world stage.
Team Captain Lauryn Elmore achieved this on Saturday. Facing Zoe Vogels of the
Netherlands, Elmore faced early adversity after dropping the opening frame 4-1
on the judges' scorecards.
Showcasing the grit that defines her leadership, she rallied fiercely in the
second round to mirror the 4-1 score in her favor, sending the bout into a
high-stakes final round deadlock.
Elmore dominated the final three minutes, capturing the round 4-1 to claim a
gritty 3-2 split-decision victory.
The win marks Elmore's third career international medal and advances her to a
highly anticipated semifinal bout against India's Harsika Harsika on Sunday,
October 25.
Following Elmore's lead, flyweight Ruby Lopez won in her 51 kg quarterfinal bout
against China’s Sirui Yang. Lopez also dropped her opening round 4-1 but
completely shifted the bout's dynamic in the second. With her barrage of
combinations, Lopez forced an 8-count against Yang, sweeping all five judges in
the process.
She maintained her pace through the final bell to secure a 3-2 split-decision
win, locking down the first international medal of her rising career. Lopez
moves on to face Venezuela's Grenyellis Garcia in Sunday's semifinal action.
Three other USA boxers put forth valiant efforts on Saturday, though their
tournament runs came to an end after three rounds of grueling Olympic-style
boxing. Asante Lamar fell via a 3-0 decision to Kazakhstan's Bibarys Ashirbay;
Ciana Nonhphala dropped a razor-thin 3-2 split decision to Ireland's Ellen
Joyce; and James Gentile was defeated 5-0 by England's Kobe Clark.
The tournament continues on Sunday, October 25, as Team USA prepares to send
five boxers into the ring for the high-stakes semifinal round, looking to
upgrade their guaranteed medals to gold.
Saturday, Oct. 24 Results
Men’s 70 kg: Asante Lamar, USA vs. Bibarys Ashirbay, KAZ | L 3-0
Women’s 75 kg: Ariana Chavez, USA vs. Emilie Derasp, CAN | L WO
Women’s 48 kg: Ciana Nonhphala, USA vs. Ellen Joyce, IRL| L 3-2
Women’s 51 kg: Ruby Lopez, USA vs. Shu Liu, CHN | W 3-2
Women’s 65 kg: Lauryn Elmore, USA vs. Zoe Vogels, NED | W 3-2
Men’s 75 kg: James Gentile, USA vs. Kobe Clarke, ENG | L 5-0
Sunday, Oct. 25 Schedule
Women’s 54 kg: Guadalupe Ruiz, USA vs. Sirui Yang, CHN | Semifinals in Session
1, Ring B, Bout 2 at approximately 8:15 a.m. ET
Women’s 70 kg: Marley McNealy, USA vs Kaysie Joyce, IRL | Semifinals in Session
1, Ring A, Bout 5 at approximately 9:00 a.m. ET
Women’s 51 kg: Ruby Lopez, USA vs. Grenyellis Garcia, VEN | Semifinals in
Session 2, Ring A, Bout 2 at approximately 12:15 p.m. ET
Women’s 65 kg: Lauryn Elmore, USA vs. Harsika Harsika, IND | Semifinals in
Session 2, Ring A, Bout 5 at approximately 1:00 p.m. ET
Men’s 65 kg: Asaan Jenkins, USA vs. Yashua Flemming, ENG | Semifinals in Session
2, Ring B, Bout 6 at approximately 1:15 p.m. ET.
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