McNealy, Lopez and Elmore box for U19 world gold in Budva on Oct. 27 against two Uzbek opponents and one Russian; Ruiz and Jenkins took bronze for the US.
What we know
- 40 finalists from 15 nations contest 20 titles at the World Boxing U19 Championships, with Russia the largest group at ten finalists.
- Guadalupe Ruiz and Asaan Jenkins finished with bronze for the US after semifinal defeats.
- Marley McNealy fights Maftuna Yangieva at 70 kg, Ruby Lopez fights Nazokat Mardonova at 51 kg, and Lauryn Elmore fights Bella Zueva at 65 kg.
- Aaron Sarwar is Scotland's first finalist at this level in a decade and faces Vladimir Orlov at 50 kg.
Three American women have a shot at world gold in Budva, and one of them is already a champion this year. Team captain Lauryn Elmore, from Sacramento, is chasing a second international title in 2026 after winning gold at the World Boxing Futures Cup in Thailand. Ruby Lopez, from Napa, is going for her first.
Marley McNealy, from San Francisco, meets Maftuna Yangieva at 70 kg at about . Lopez faces Nazokat Mardonova at 51 kg at about , and Elmore fights Bella Zueva at 65 kg at about . These are estimated start times, not fixed opening bells. The three won their semifinals on Sunday and had Monday off as the tournament's rest day.
The finalists are not a separate team. They are part of a 15-boxer US delegation of seven women and eight men, led by national development coach Stephen Grand. The squad arrived after taking nine medals at the Futures Cup: four gold, one silver and four bronze. McNealy won bronze there.
Elsewhere on the card, Scotland's Aaron Sarwar fights Vladimir Orlov at 50 kg and is his country's first finalist at this level in a decade. Argentina's Edgardo Nicolas Peralta meets Ireland's Kalib Walshe at 60 kg, Argentina's first finalist since Fabian Maidana in 2010. Spain's Pablo Souto faces England's Yashua Flemming, the defending European U19 champion, at 65 kg.
None of the three American finals has been decided yet. Elmore's 65 kg bout against a Russian opponent is the one to watch, given Russia's size in the draw.
Marley McNealy, from San Francisco, meets Maftuna Yangieva at 70 kg at about . Lopez faces Nazokat Mardonova at 51 kg at about , and Elmore fights Bella Zueva at 65 kg at about . These are estimated start times, not fixed opening bells. The three won their semifinals on Sunday and had Monday off as the tournament's rest day.
The finalists are not a separate team. They are part of a 15-boxer US delegation of seven women and eight men, led by national development coach Stephen Grand. The squad arrived after taking nine medals at the Futures Cup: four gold, one silver and four bronze. McNealy won bronze there.
Elsewhere on the card, Scotland's Aaron Sarwar fights Vladimir Orlov at 50 kg and is his country's first finalist at this level in a decade. Argentina's Edgardo Nicolas Peralta meets Ireland's Kalib Walshe at 60 kg, Argentina's first finalist since Fabian Maidana in 2010. Spain's Pablo Souto faces England's Yashua Flemming, the defending European U19 champion, at 65 kg.
None of the three American finals has been decided yet. Elmore's 65 kg bout against a Russian opponent is the one to watch, given Russia's size in the draw.
- Summary
- McNealy, Lopez and Elmore box for U19 world gold in Budva on Oct. 27 against two Uzbek opponents and one Russian; Ruiz and Jenkins took bronze for the US.
- Key points (one per line)
- Marley McNealy, Ruby Lopez and Lauryn Elmore reached World Boxing U19 finals in Budva, Montenegro.
Opponents: Maftuna Yangieva and Nazokat Mardonova of Uzbekistan, Bella Zueva of Russia.
40 finalists from 15 nations fight for 20 titles; Russia has ten finalists.
- Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
- MiddleEasy | https://middleeasy.com/boxing/usa-boxing-mcnealy-lopez-elmore-u19-world-finals-budva/
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What they're saying
World Boxing@RealWorldBoxingIn the story
10 gold medalists will be determined during the opening session of the U19 World Boxing Championship Finals tomorrow 🥇🔥
Oct 26 · View on X
World Boxing@RealWorldBoxingIn the story
Closing out the U19 World Boxing Championship with 10 evening finals🥇👀
Oct 26 · View on X
USA Boxing@USABoxingIn the story
Three USA boxers have punched their tickets to the finals on day 10 of the U19 World Boxing Championships!
Oct 25 · View on X
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MiddleEasySummarized with AI from the sources above. Read the originals for the full story.
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