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BUDAPEST, Hungary (August 28, 2018) – On the eighth day of competition at the 2018 Youth World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Team USA advanced three boxers to the championship bouts, while Isamary Aquino(Universal City, Texas) picked up her second Youth World Championships bronze medal.
Flyweight Asa Stevens (Waianea, Hawaii) started the Americans off on a winning note with a 3-2 win over Bhavesh Kattimani of India to advance to the championship bout. Stevens will be looking to become the first flyweight Youth World Champion for Team USA since Shakur Stevenson won in 2014 when he steps into the ring on Friday against England’s Ivan Price, the 2018 European Champion.
2015 Junior World Champion Heaven Garcia (El Monte, Calif.) revenged her quarterfinal loss to Kazakhstan’s Zhansaya Abdraimova at last year’s Youth World Championships by taking the rematch with a 3-2 decision. Garcia will join Stevens on the second day of finals, as she will face Anamika Urang of India, the 2018 Asian Confederation silver medalist.
The third American to advance to the finals, Iyana Verduzco (Los Angeles, Calif.), continued her impressive World Championships debut with a 4-1 victory over Aycan Guldgai of Turkey. Verduzco will be the first member of Team USA to box in the finals, as she will take on Aizada Yeslyamgali, the 2018 Asian Confederation silver medalist, on Thursday.
Aqunio, the final member of Team USA to box in the semifinals, fell short of advancing to the championship bouts against Sakshi of India. This marks Aquino’s second Youth World Championships bronze medal after taking home the bronze at last year’s Youth World Championships.
Team USA will leave these World Championships with four medals total and have been under the leadership of National Junior and Youth Coach Augie Sanchez(Las Vegas, Nev.) throughout this tournament, with Timothy Back (Cincinnati, Ohio), Eliza Olson (Redwood, Calif.) and Rosario Solis (Irving, Texas) serving as assistant coaches.
You can follow all of the action from the championship bouts by clicking here.
Team USA Results
51 kg: Heaven Garcia, El Monte, Calif./USA, dec. over Zhanssaya Abdaimova/KAZ, 3-2
52 kg: Asa Stevens, Waianea, Hawaii/USA, dec. over Bhavesh Kattimani/IND, 3-2
54 kg: Iyana Verduzco, Los Angeles, Calif./USA, dec. over Aycan Guldagi/TUR, 4-1
57 kg: Sakshi/IND, dec. over Isamary Aquino, Universal City, Texas/USA, 5-0
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