The important semifinals at the 3rd Panamerican Games Qualification Tournament in Panama City decided the remaining 33 quota places for Guadalajara.
Panama's 19-year-old Gilberto Pedroza beat Michael Benedosso of the US 16:13 and will face Evier Hernandez of Venezuela in the light flyweight final.
Puerto Rico's teenager Carlos Ortiz shocked the Argentinean delegation when he eliminated WSB boxer Fernando Martinez in his opening contest. Ortiz followed by outpointing Jhon Nelson Corona of El Salvador to qualify for the Panamerican Games. His opponent in the flyweight final will be US National Champion John Franklin.
Venezuela's strong Angel Rodriguez also qualified for the Panamerican Games after beating Guatemala's CAC Games bronze medalist Joselito Aguirre by 17:6 and will be fighting for the bantamweight gold medal against Canada's Panamerican Championships silver medalist Joey Laviolette who also secured his ticket to Guadalajara.
The Dominican Republic's 21-year-old Wellington Arias defeated US Toka Kahn-Clary while Barbados' Commonwealth Games competitor 21-year-old Cobia Breedy also advanced to the lightweight final after beating Jose Roca of Bolivia. The losers of the semi-finals still have a chance to qualify for the Panamerican Games because the winner of the third place bout also could qualify for Guadalajara.
Panama's Cesar Rivas caused another huge surprise at the event when he eliminated CAC Games gold medalist Valentino Knowles of Bahamas and will be fighting for the gold against Yoelvis Hernandez of Venezuela.
Peru's best welterweight boxer Luis Miranda triumphed over Puerto Rico's Panamerican Junior Champion 18-year-old Emmanuel De Jesus and has a chance to reach the gold medal against Argentina's Alberto Palmeta.
US middleweight boxer Damarius Russell stopped CAC Games bronze medalist Andrew Fermin of Trinidad and Tobago in their semi-final contest and his next opponent will be Junior Castillo of the Dominican Republic for the gold.
Puerto Rico's Jose Soto dominated the contest against Canadian National Champion Jonathan Savard and achieved the quota for the Panamerican Games. At the light heavyweight final he will face Jamaica's Jovan Young who is boxing in London, UK.
Barbados' top boxer CAC Games bronze medalist Anderson Emanuel had a close fight against US National Champion Jordan Shimmell and surprisingly Emanuel won the bout by 8:7 and will be fighting against Dominican Republic's Manuel De Jesus Marinez in the heavyweight final.
Virgin Islands' only male competitor at the event is super heavyweight 21-year-old Clayton Laurent who defeated Ronaldo Bermudez of Panama and will face Colombia's Isaias Mena for the gold. The Colombian boxer had a quick winning bout against strong Damian Sealy of Barbados in the semi-final.
In the women's flyweight class Colombia's Ingrid Valencia eliminated her top rival multiple Panamerican Champion Erika Matos of Brazil in the first preliminary round. The rising talent secured her qualification place after beating AIBA Women's World Championships competitor 19-year-old Yahaira Pena of El Salvador and will face Pamela Sanchez of Costa Rica.
Argentina's Panamerican Championships silver medalist Celeste Peralta dominated the important semi-final against Trinidad and Tobago's Jamila Jones and the referee stopped the contest before the final gong putting Peralta through to the lightweight final, where her next rival will be Jennifer Caceres of Colombia.
In the women's middleweight division Virgin Islands' only female boxer in the event is Tiffany Reddick, who is a newcomer at international level but despite of her inexperience she stopped Dilsa Quintero of Panama and will face Ledy Mayorga of Nicaragua for the gold medal.
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