Ellis-Bey Dominates Day One In FOZ DO IGUACU
FOZ DO IGUACU, Brazil (April 20, 2026) – The World Boxing Cup – Stage 1 kicked off for the United States on Monday at the Rafain Palace Hotel & Convention Center in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil. Team captain Salim Ellis-Bey (60 kilograms) headlined the day for Team USA’s four boxers and captured a unanimous decision over Hungary’s Kruzító Kovács.
Ellis-Bey, a Philadelphia native, won the first round 4-1 before closing out the bout with 5-0 sweeps in each of the final two rounds, including three 10-8 scorecards in the last round, to secure the unanimous decision victory. With the win, Ellis-Bey advanced to the Round of 16, where he will now face Ireland’s Jude Gallagher on Wednesday, April 22.
Also in action on Monday were Malachi Georges (90 kilograms) and Tyric Trapp (80 kilograms). Both boxers were elevated from the Elite High Performance Squad for this event and battled in their opening-round matchups. Georges and Trapp concluded their runs on Monday after Georges lost by a 4-1 split decision to Spain’s Enmanuel Reyes Pla and Trapp lost by a 5-0 decision against Venezuela’s Diego Andres Pereyra Mejia. Naomi Graham (75 kilograms) was scheduled to box today but lost by a walkover.
Team USA will have five boxers enter the ring on Tuesday, beginning with another team captain, Alyssa Mendoza. Mendoza, a Paris 2024 Olympian, matches up with a fellow Paris Olympian, Ireland’s Michaela Walsh, in a 57-kilogram showdown. The bout will serve as a rematch from the Strandja Boxing Tournament earlier this year. Mendoza’s bout against Walsh is slated for the opening session in Ring B, Bout 6, beginning at approximately 11:15 a.m. ET.
Lorenzo Patricio (55 kilograms) will enter the ring second on the day for the USA, marking his tournament debut. Coming off a silver medal in Bulgaria, Patricio will square off with Morocco’s Othman Chadghour in Session 1, Ring B, Bout 11, at approximately 12:30 p.m. ET.
Marie-Angelis Rosendo (65 kilograms) and Marcus Luther (65 kilograms) will take the ring shortly after to mark the third and fourth bouts of the day for the Stars and Stripes. Rosendo is slated to take on Turkey’s Sema Çaliskan in Session 2, Ring A, Bout 2, beginning at approximately 4:15 p.m. ET. Luther will square off against Libya’s Yazin Salah Aldeen Alia in Session 2, Ring B, Bout 8, at approximately 5:45 p.m. ET. Rounding out the day will be Kelvin Watts (90+ kilograms) against Argentina’s Enzo Gallardo in Session 2, Ring B, Bout 13, beginning at approximately 7 p.m. ET. Watts is 1-1 in international competition this year and is looking for a strong showing in the super heavyweight division.
At the World Boxing Cup - Stage 1, USA Boxing will be led by Head Coach Billy Walsh (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and assisted by National Development Coach Edward Fonteneaux (Fayetteville, N.C.) and Elite High Performance Coach Nikki Burleson (Oklahoma City, Okla.).
Fans can stay updated on the USA Boxing High Performance Team at the World Boxing Cup - Stage 1 on the USA Boxing website. Brackets, broadcast information, daily schedules and daily results will be updated on the World Boxing Cup - Stage 1 event page.
Monday, April 20:
Men’s 60kg: Salim Ellis-Bey, USA vs. Kruzító Kovács, HUN | W 5-0
Men’s 90kg: Malachi Georges, USA vs. Enmanuel Reyes Pla, ESP | L 4-1
Women’s 75 kg: Naomi Graham, USA vs Barbara Santos, BRA | L WO
Men’s 80kg: Tyric Trapp, USA vs. Diego Andres Pereyra Mejia, VEN | L 5-0
Tuesday, April 21:
Women’s 57kg: Alyssa Mendoza, USA vs. Michaela Walsh, IRL
Men’s 55kg: Lorenzo Patricio, USA vs. Othman Chadghour, MAR
Men’s 65kg: Marcus Luther, USA vs. Yazin Salah Aldeen Alia, LBA
Women’s 65kg: Marie-Angelis Rosendo, USA vs. Sema Çaliskan, TUR
Men’s 90+kg: Kelvin Watts, USA vs. Enzo Gallardo, ARG
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