PBC Boxers Advances to Semifinals at World Boxing U19 Futures Cup

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Panamerican Boxing Confederation (PBC) athletes continue to make their mark on the global stage as the 2026 World Boxing U19 Futures Cup in Bangkok enters its final stages. After a grueling series of Quarterfinal bouts, several standout athletes from the United States and Mexico have punched their tickets to the Semifinals, showcasing the high-level technical skill and resilience of the region's youth programs.

March 13 Results: Pan American Quarterfinal Highlights

PBC athletes delivered several critical victories today, securing their advancement into the championship rounds:

• Sofia Ramirez (MEX): In a dominant performance in the Female 54kg division, Ramirez advanced with an RSC victory over Germany.

• Jonathan Bibriesca (MEX): Secured a hard-fought 3:2 split decision win against Uzbekistan in the Male 55kg class.

• Guadalupe Ruiz (USA): Advanced in the Female 54kg division with a powerful RSC win over Egypt.

• Christian Paez (USA): Delivered a tactical masterclass in the Male 55kg division, earning a unanimous decision victory over Spain.

• Asaan Jenkins (USA): Continued his run in the Male 65kg class with a unanimous decision win over Morocco.

• Lauryn Elmore (USA): Secured her place in the next round with a unanimous decision victory over Kazakhstan in the Famale 65kg division.

• Brijhana Epperson (USA): Advanced to the Semifinals in the Female 57kg class via walkover.

The region also celebrated hard-fought efforts from Asante Lamar (USA) and Josue Zepeda (MEX), who both exited the tournament in competitive Quarterfinal matches against top-seeded opponents from Kazakhstan and Thailand. Norman Simmons (PAN) put up a tough fight against his strong opponent from Uzbekistan.

Preview: March 14

The stakes reach a new high as the Semifinals take place. PBC is well-represented in a series of highly anticipated matchups:

Session 13:

Starts at 11:00 AM ICT/local time March 14 | 1:00 AM BRT March 14 | 12:00 AM AST March 14 | 11:00 PM EST March 13 | 10:00 PM CST March 13 | 9:00 PM MST March 13 | 8:00 PM PST March 13

• Sofia Ramirez (MEX) vs. Joyshree Devi Chirom (IND) — Female 54kg Semifinal (Ring A).

• Brijhana Epperson (USA) vs. Aknur Tursyngali (KAZ) — Female 57kg Semifinal (Ring A).

• Marley McNealy (USA) vs. Kamila Ospanova (KAZ) — Female 70kg Semifinal (Ring A).

• Ariana Chavez (USA) vs. Samira Turgunova (UZB) — Female 75kg Semifinal (Ring A).

• Guadalupe Ruiz (USA) vs. Jaya Kalsi (ENG) — Female 54kg Semifinal (Ring B).

• Jonathan Bibriesca (MEX) vs. Christian Paez (USA): A massive all-Panamerican Semifinal showdown in the Male 55kg division (Ring B).

• Angel Blancarte Velazquez (USA) vs. Nursultan Kystaubay (KAZ) — Male 85kg Semifinal (Ring B).

Session 14:

Starts at 5:00 PM ICT/local time March 14 | 7:00 AM BRT March 14 | 6:00 AM AST March 14 | 5:00 AM EST March 14 | 4:00 AM CST March 14 | 3:00 AM MST March 14 | 2:00 AM PST March 14

• Lauryn Elmore (USA) vs. Aya Essoubai (MAR) — Female 65kg Semifinal (Ring A).

• Asaan Jenkins (USA) vs. Kunimitsu Honjo (JPN) — Male 65kg Semifinal (Ring B).

Follow the Action: Fans can watch the live stream of today's sessions on the Thailand Boxing Association YouTube Channel.

Results, Bout Sheets, and Updated Brackets can be found on the website of our partner, Xempower.

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