PUEBLA, Mexico — USA Boxing’s Elite High Performance Team will compete at the 2026 PanAmerican Championships, as Team USA sends 14 boxers to Puebla, Mexico, for its final international tournament of the year. The competition will take place from October 18-24 inside Miguel Hidalgo Gymnasium, with seven men and seven women representing the United States.
Entering the ring on opening day, Sunday, October 18, are Joseph Awinongya (90 kilograms), Rahim Gonzales (80 kilograms) and Lavant Brownlee (70 kilograms). Awinongya will open his tournament against Costa Rica’s Jaisen Steve Robinson Kohn in the round of 32 in Session One, Bout 8 at approximately 4:15 p.m. ET. Brownlee will follow Awinongya and will take on the Dominican Republic’s Ricardo Cuello in Session Two, Bout 4 at approximately 8:15 p.m. ET, and Gonzales will round out the opening day for the United States against Cuba’s Jorge Cuellar in Session Two, Bout 10 at approximately 9:45 p.m. ET.
On Monday, October 19, Team USA will see three boxers in action, including Jajaira Gonzalez (60 kilograms), Lorenzo Patricio (55 kilograms) and Salim Ellis-Bey (60 kilograms).
Gonzalez will compete in the quarterfinals against Canada’s Marie Al Ahmadieh, while Patricio, who is coming off a gold medal run in China, will face Panama’s Luis Pachay in the round of 32. Ellis-Bey will also begin his tournament in the round of 32, taking on Venezuela’s Wilson Solorzano.
Moving into Tuesday, October 20, four Americans are scheduled to compete. Alyssa Mendoza (57 kilograms) earned a bye and will face the winner of the matchup between Cuba’s Magda Masso and Mexico’s Guadalupe Torres. Marie Rosendo (65 kilograms) will open her tournament against Mexico’s Darianne Hernandez in the round of 32. Should Rosendo win, she will advance to face Brazil’s Beatriz Ferreira, a two-time Olympic medalist.
Simona Winkler (70 kilograms) also earned a bye and will face the winner of Mexico’s Siomara Gomez and Puerto Rico’s Stephanie Pineiro in the quarterfinals. On the men’s side, Marcus Luther (65 kilograms) earned a bye and will face the winner of Cuba’s Luis Vinet and Paraguay’s Arnold Centurion in the round of 12.
On Wednesday, October 21, Noelle Haro (51 kilograms), Kendra Samargis (75 kilograms) and Gilbert Kabamba (90+ kilograms) will enter the ring for the United States. Haro earned a bye and will face the winner of Guatemala’s Dulce Diaz and Haiti’s Saintelise Jean in the quarterfinals. Samargis will also compete in the quarterfinals, taking on Venezuela’s Maryelis Yriza. Kabamba earned a bye and will face Cuba’s Erick Castillo in the quarterfinals as he looks to advance toward a medal.
Rounding out Team USA’s scheduled opening bouts, Yoseline Perez (54 kilograms) will compete on Thursday, October 22. Perez earned a bye and will face the winner of Colombia’s Yeni Arias and Chile’s Denisse Bravo in the quarterfinals.
The USA Boxing Elite High Performance Team is led by Head Coach Billy Walsh (Colorado Springs, Colo.), who is assisted by National High Performance Coaches Nikki Burleson (Oklahoma City, Okla.), National Technical Coach Zaur Antia, and Billy Rafalko (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Jay Nimo (Dallas, Texas).
For further information on the 2026 Pan American Championships, including Brackets, Livestream, results, and more, fans can visit USA Boxing’s Pan American Boxing event page.
Team USA Opening Round Schedules
Sunday, October 18
Men’s 90 kg: Joseph Awinongya, USA vs. Jaisen Steve Robinson Kohn, CRC | Session One, Bout 8 at approximately 4:15 p.m. ET
Men’s 70 kg: Lavant Brownlee, USA vs. Ricardo Cuello, DOM | Session Two, Bout 4 at approximately 8:15 p.m. ET
Men’s 80 kg: Rahim Gonzales, USA vs. Jorge Cuellar, CUB | Session Two, Bout 10 at approximately 9:45 p.m. ET
Monday, October 19
Women’s 60 kg: Jajaira Gonzalez, USA vs. Marie Al Ahmadieh, CAN | Quarterfinals
Men’s 55 kg: Lorenzo Patricio, USA vs. Luis Pachay, PAN | Round of 32
Men’s 60 kg: Salim Ellis-Bey, USA vs. Wilson Solorzano, VEN | Round of 32
Tuesday, October 20
Women’s 57 kg: Alyssa Mendoza, USA vs. winner of Magda Masso, CUB, vs. Guadalupe Torres, MEX
Women’s 65 kg: Marie Rosendo, USA vs. Darianne Hernandez, MEX | Round of 32
Women’s 70 kg: Simona Winkler, USA vs. winner of Siomara Gomez, MEX, vs. Stephanie Pineiro, PUR | Quarterfinals
Men’s 65 kg: Marcus Luther, USA vs. winner of Luis Vinet, CUB, vs. Arnold Centurion, PAR | Round of 32
Wednesday, October 21
Women’s 51 kg: Noelle Haro, USA vs. winner of Dulce Diaz, GUA, vs. Saintelise Jean, HAI | Quarterfinals
Women’s 75 kg: Kendra Samargis, USA vs. Maryelis Yriza, VEN | Quarterfinals
Men’s 90+ kg: Gilbert Kabamba, USA vs. Erick Castillo, CUB | Quarterfinals
Thursday, October 22
Women’s 54 kg: Yoseline Perez, USA vs. winner of Yeni Arias, COL, vs. Denisse Bravo, CHI | Quarterfinals
Press release: Bob Trieger
