BUDVA, Montenegro (Oct. 22, 2026) — Team USA saw four boxers punch their tickets to the quarterfinals on Thursday at the 2026 World Boxing U19 Championships in Budva, Montenegro. The United States secured four victories on the day, with Asaan Jenkins, Asante Lamar, Ruby Lopez and Ariana Chavez all advancing to the quarterfinals.
Team USA got off to a strong start after Asaan Jenkins (men’s 65 kg) secured a unanimous decision victory over Georgia’s Luka Chkhikvadze. Jenkins won the first and third rounds by 5-0 decisions to improve his international record to 6-1, with five unanimous decision victories, including two at this tournament. Jenkins will now face Azerbaijan’s Shahin Aslanov on Friday, Oct. 23, in the quarterfinals.
After Jenkins, Asante Lamar (men’s 70 kg) secured a unanimous decision victory over New Zealand’s Noah Collier. Lamar swept all three rounds, earning 5-0 scores from the judges in each round to secure his second unanimous decision victory of the tournament. He improves his international record to 4-1, with all four victories coming by unanimous decision. Lamar advances to the quarterfinals on Saturday, Oct. 24, where he will face Kazakhstan’s Bibarys Ashirbay in a rematch of their bout at the 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup in Thailand, where Ashirbay earned a 3-2 decision victory.
Ruby Lopez (women’s 51 kg) secured her second win in Montenegro after she earned a unanimous decision victory over Japan’s Momoko Hasebe. Lopez won the first and second rounds by 5-0 decisions to improve her international record to 3-1. Lopez advances to the quarterfinals on Saturday, Oct. 24, where she will face China’s Shu Liu.
Ariana Chavez (women’s 75 kg) rounded out the day for Team USA with a 3-2 decision victory over Ukraine’s Iryna Onopriienko. Chavez earned her first international victory after taking the opening round 4-1 and winning the final round 3-2. Chavez advances to the quarterfinals on Saturday, Oct. 24, where she will face Canada’s Emilie Derasp.
David Arrieta (men’s 60 kg) also competed for the United States on Thursday, but unfortunately, his journey came to an end after falling by a 4-1 decision to Algeria’s Smail Sahraoui.
Team USA will continue its quarterfinal campaign on Friday, Oct. 23, with five boxers taking the ring, including four in the quarterfinals. Ciana Nonhphala (women’s 48 kg) will face Kazakhstan’s Zhadyra Kaltay in Session 1, Ring B, Bout 2 at approximately 8:15 a.m. ET in the Round of 16, followed by Guadalupe Ruiz (women’s 54 kg), who will take on Scotland’s Rosie Swailes in Session 1, Ring B, Bout 6 at approximately 9:15 a.m. ET in the quarterfinals.
Jenkins will return to the ring against Azerbaijan’s Shahin Aslanov in Session 1, Ring B, Bout 4 at approximately 12:45 p.m. ET, while Marley McNealy (women’s 70 kg) will face India’s Lakshu Lakshu in Session 1, Ring B, Bout 5 at approximately 1 p.m. ET. Caleb Stewart-Reid (men’s 90+ kg) will close out the slate against Uzbekistan’s Islam Salikhov in Session 1, Ring B, Bout 12 at approximately 2:45 p.m. ET. This will be a battle between two World Boxing Futures Cup medalists, as Stewart-Reid won bronze and Salikhov earned gold in Thailand after going 2 0.
Thursday, Oct. 22 Results
Men’s 65 kg: Asaan Jenkins, USA vs. Luka Chkhikvadze, Geo |W 5-0
Men’s 70 kg: Asante Lamar, USA vs. Noah Collier, NZL | W 5-0
Women’s 51 kg: Ruby Lopez, USA vs Momoko Hasebe, JPN | W 5-0
Men’s 60 kg: David Arrieta, USA vs Smail Sahraoui, ALG | L 4-1
Women’s 75 kg: Ariana Chavez, USA vs. Iryna Onopriienko, UKR | W 3-2
Friday, Oct. 23 Schedule
Women’s 48 kg: Ciana Nonhphala, USA vs. Zhadyra Kaltay, KAZ | Round of 16 in Session 1, Ring B, Bout 2 at approximately 8:15 a.m. ET
Women’s 54 kg: Guadalupe Ruiz, USA vs. Rosie Swailes, SCO | Quarterfinals in Session 1, Ring B, Bout 6 at approximately 9:15 a.m. ET
Men’s 65 kg: Asaan Jenkins, USA vs. Shahin Aslanov, AZE | Quarterfinals in Session 1, Ring B, Bout 4 at approximately 12:45 p.m. ET
Women’s 70 kg: Marley McNealy, USA vs. Lakshu Lakshu, IND | Quarterfinals in Session 1, Ring B, Bout 5 at approximately 1:00 p.m. ET
Men’s 90+ kg: Caleb Stewart-Reid, USA vs. Islam Salikhov, UZB | Quarterfinals in Session 1, Ring B, Bout 12 at approximately 2:45 p.m. ET
