Mexican Boxing Team Secures Two Bronze Medals at IBA Youth World Championships in Montenegro

In a thrilling showcase of boxing talent, Mexico's national boxing team made headlines at the IBA (International Boxing Association) Youth World Championships in Budva, Montenegro, by capturing two hard-fought bronze medals. The event witnessed an impressive series of bouts as Mexican athletes displayed both grit and skill in the international arena, with standout performances from Valeria Sarahi Amparán Pizarro and Juan Diego Flores Guerrero.

The first medal success story for Team Mexico came from Valeria Sarahi Amparán Pizarro, a determined fighter hailing from Durango. Competing in the 48-kilogram women's category, Amparán advanced to the semifinals by securing a dominant, unanimous-decision victory over China’s Weimei Zeng. The judges' scores of 30-25, 30-24, 29-27, 30-26, and 30-26 reflected her commanding performance, propelling her into the history books as one of Mexico’s elite youth boxers.

Joining Amparán in the medal count, Aguascalientes' own Juan Diego Flores Guerrero faced a grueling 67-kilogram semifinal bout. Flores eked out a split-decision victory over Romania’s Arun Nicu Tudoroiu, winning narrowly with scores of 29-28, 29-28, 28-29, 28-29, and 28-29. This hard-fought win ensured Flores would leave Montenegro with a bronze medal, showcasing his resilience and tactical prowess in the ring.

The Road to the Semifinals

Amparán's rise to the semifinals was no fluke. Her ability to outbox and outmaneuver her opponents made her a formidable force throughout the tournament. However, her path to glory wasn’t without challenges, as she prepared to face even tougher competition in her quest for gold.

For Flores, the journey was equally intense. His bronze-medal campaign saw him square off against world-class opponents, including a crucial victory over Turkey’s Hüseyin Babat. In this earlier round, Flores secured a unanimous-decision win with scorecards reading 29-26, 28-26, 28-27, 28-27, and 28-27. Additionally, he delivered a crowd-pleasing performance against Belarusian Yauheni Harbachou, defeating him via Referee Suspends Combat (RSC) in the second round.

Unfortunately, Flores' dreams of advancing further were halted when he met Cuba’s David Manuel Espinosa Santoya in the semifinal. The Cuban fighter, renowned for his relentless pace and precise striking, proved too much to handle, winning by unanimous decision with scores of 30-25, 30-27, 29-28, 30-27, and 30-27. Despite the setback, Flores' bronze medal marks a significant achievement for the young pugilist from Aguascalientes.

While Amparán and Flores delivered podium finishes, other members of the Mexican squad put up valiant efforts. Fernanda Isabel Corona Cruz from Oaxaca competed fiercely in the 60-kilogram division but was outpointed by North Korea’s Su Rim Son. Son’s unanimous-decision win, reflected by scores of 30-27 across three cards and 29-28 on two others, underscored the tough competition at the world stage.

Michoacan’s Devany Ramírez Reyes faced a similarly difficult outing in the 54-kilogram category. She suffered a third-round defeat to China’s Xuan Tang by Referee Suspends Combat (RSC), highlighting the unforgiving nature of high-level youth boxing.

The Mexican women's team is far from done, with several key matchups set to unfold. On October 30, Valentina Polet Muñoz Reveles will clash with Kazakhstan's Bagzhan Otynbay in the 52-kilogram weight division. Meanwhile, Dulce María García Vizcarra is preparing to face Venezuela’s Diana Alejandra Maestre Márquez in the 57-kilogram bout.

Anticipation is also building for Tita Paulina Reyes Ramírez, who will go toe-to-toe with Greece’s Maria Georgopoulou in the 50-kilogram category. Lorien Elizabeth Alonso Salas will round out the women's slate as she fights Nell McLaughlin from the neutral team in the 75-kilogram division.

Amparán’s Historic Final Awaits

In perhaps the most exciting development, Valeria Sarahi Amparán Pizarro has made history as the first Mexican woman to advance to an IBA Youth World Boxing Championship final. She earned this distinction by dispatching Kazakhstan’s Anel Abdrassilova in the second round, forcing a Referee Suspends the Fight (RSC) decision in the 48-kilogram category. This milestone sets the stage for Amparán to compete for the coveted gold medal, a momentous occasion for Mexican youth boxing.

The action doesn’t stop with Amparán and Flores. Chihuahua's Adrián Humberto Quintana Quiñonez made a strong impression in the 63.5-kilogram division, defeating Kei Lam Wong from Hong Kong by RSC in the first round. However, others from the team met with mixed outcomes. Michoacan native Eduardo Isabel Contreras Ramírez was stopped in the first round by Adam Olaniyan of Ireland in the +92-kilogram category, highlighting the tournament’s unforgiving nature.

October 26 promises a new wave of Mexican contenders. Rodrigo Marín Pulido will face Serbia’s Hamza Rasljanin in the 71-kilogram division, while Harold Armin Santos Mancilla squares off against Ghana’s Ankrah Ebenezer in the 60-kilogram category. Also stepping into the ring are Héctor Daniel Carbajal Mendoza against Ireland’s Jamie Graham (57 kg) and Ricardo Samuel Escareño Cruz against Bulgaria’s Stoyan Vasilev Petrov (86 kg).

The women’s division will also see action, with Fernanda Isabel Corona Cruz preparing for a bout against Nepal’s Nishika Gurung in the 60-kilogram weight class.

Mexico’s young boxing talent continues to rise on the world stage, with Amparán and Flores' bronze medals serving as a testament to their hard work and skill. As the championship unfolds, all eyes will be on the final bouts, hoping that the Aztec legion can bring more medals back home. With a mixture of triumphs and near-misses, the future of Mexican boxing looks brighter than ever.