Peralta Stunner, McNealy Stoppage, and Five Finalists: Panamerican Boxers Punch Tickets to World Championship Gold Bouts

COMPETITIONS

10/26/20262 min read

BUDVA, MONTENEGRO – Athletes representing Panamerican Boxing Confederation delivered career-defining performances during Sunday’s semifinal round at the 2026 World Boxing U19 Championships in Budva. Spurred by a tactical masterclass from Argentina, a vicious stoppage from Team USA, and clean sweeps across the ring, five confederation standouts punched their tickets to Tuesday's World Championship Finals: Edgardo Nicolás Peralta (ARG), Elissandra Santos (BRA), Marley McNealy (USA), Ruby Lopez (USA), and Lauryn Elmore (USA).

October 25 Semifinal Highlights: The Americas Break Through to the Finals

Peralta Outduels Kazakhstan’s Akbissenov in Lightweight Thriller

  • Edgardo Nicolás Peralta (ARG | Men’s 60 kg): Fresh off his highlight knockout earlier in the tournament, Argentina’s Peralta delivered a composed, razor-sharp tactical performance against Kazakhstan’s Daniyar Akbissenov. Peralta dictated the tempo and outworked his opponent through three intense rounds, earning a 3:0 points victory to punch his ticket to the world 60kg final.

Team USA Dominates Semifinals with Three Finalists and an RSC

  • Marley McNealy (USA | Women’s 70 kg): McNealy put on an offensive showcase against Ireland’s Kaysie Joyce. Overwhelming Joyce with blistering combinations and heavy pressure, McNealy forced a Referee Stops Contest stoppage at 2:32 of Round 2 to secure her spot in the gold medal match.

  • Ruby Lopez (USA | Women’s 51 kg): In an all-Americas flyweight semifinal clash against Venezuela’s Grenyellis Garcia, Lopez controlled the ring with superior footwork and clean lead hands, earning a 4:0 points decision to advance.

  • Lauryn Elmore (USA | Women’s 65 kg): Elmore showed immense heart and grit in a grueling encounter against India’s Harsika Harsika, edging out a 3:2 split-decision victory to claim her place in the world final.

Brazil’s Elissandra Santos Sweeps into Final

  • Elissandra Santos (BRA | Women’s 48 kg): Santos put on a boxing clinic against Ireland’s Ellen Joyce. Operating behind a crisp jab and relentless counter-punching, Santos dominated all three rounds, sweeping all five scorecards for a unanimous points victory.

Historic Bronze Medals Secured

The confederation proudly celebrates the exceptional tournament runs of our bronze medalists, who bowed out in fiercely contested semifinal bouts:

  • Grenyellis Garcia (VEN | Women’s 51 kg): Bronze Medalist (4:0 vs. Ruby Lopez, USA).

  • Guadalupe Ruiz (USA | Women’s 54 kg): Bronze Medalist (Narrow 3:2 split decision vs. China’s Sirui Yang).

  • Asaan Jenkins (USA | Men’s 65 kg): Bronze Medalist (Hard-fought 4:1 decision vs. England’s Yashua Flemming).

  • Stephani Amaral (BRA | Women’s 75 kg): Bronze Medalist (5:0 decision vs. Russia’s Daria Antipova).

  • Gustavo Henrique Silva (BRA | Men’s 55 kg): Bronze Medalist (5:0 decision vs. Islam Magomedov).

  • Emilie Derasp (CAN | Women’s 75 kg): Bronze Medalist (5:0 decision vs. China’s Shengjie Gong).

  • Julio Chibas (CUB | Men’s 85 kg): Bronze Medalist (3:2 split decision vs. Uzbekistan’s Sardorbek Bakhromkhujaev).

October 27 Preview: World Championship Finals (Gold Medal Bouts)

Following Monday’s rest and training day, the 2026 World Boxing U19 Championships conclude on Tuesday, October 27. Five Panamerican Boxing Confederation athletes will battle for World Championship Gold:

Afternoon Session (14:00 CET / Session 20)

  • Bout 1 - 435 (Women’s 48 kg — World Final): Elissandra Santos (BRA) vs. Hiyori Miki (JPN)

  • Bout 5 - 439 (Men’s 60 kg — World Final): Edgardo Nicolás Peralta (ARG) vs. Kalib Walshe (IRL)

  • Bout 6 - 440 (Women’s 70 kg — World Final): Marley McNealy (USA) vs. Maftuna Yangieva (UZB)

Evening Session (18:00 CET / Session 21)

  • Bout 2 - 446 (Women’s 51 kg — World Final): Ruby Lopez (USA) vs. Nazokat Mardonova (UZB)

  • Bout 4 - 448 (Women’s 65 kg — World Final): Lauryn Elmore (USA) vs. Bella Zueva (RUS)

We continue to proudly support our athletes as they press forward in the World Championships. You can catch the action on worldboxing.tv.

Daily results, official bout orders, and bracket updates will be distributed after each session across official PBC digital channels and panamericanboxing.org.

About Panamerican Boxing Confederation (PBC):

Panamerican Boxing Confederation is the governing body for amateur and Olympic-style boxing in the Americas, dedicated to the development, governance, and promotion of the sport across its member National Federations.

Media contact: communication@panamericanboxing.org

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