Team USA’s Elite Boxing Squad Falters at 2025 World Boxing Cup in Astana
Sub-.500 Win Rate and Early Exits Underscore Struggles Against International Opposition
After months of preparation and anticipation, the United States Elite Boxing Team left the 2025 World Boxing Cup in Astana, Kazakhstan with more questions than hardware. Across seven days of competition, Team USA’s 11-boxer delegation managed just 10 wins against 11 losses—an overall winning percentage of 47.62%, barely below .500, but far from the standard expected of an elite international squad.
Inconsistent Results Across the Brackets
The U.S. squad featured a mix of rising talent and returning Olympians, competing across 11 of the 13 Olympic weight classes. Yet the medal haul told a modest story: one silver, two bronze.
Yoseline Perez (54kg) emerged as the tournament’s brightest spot for Team USA, notching three dominant unanimous-decision victories to reach the finals before settling for silver. On the men’s side, Rahim Gonzales (80kg) claimed bronze after two strong wins, though he was withdrawn from the semifinals before competing.
Other highlights included early stoppage victories from Malachi Georges (90kg) and Morelle McCane (65kg), but both fell short in subsequent bouts, unable to sustain their momentum.
Beyond those standout performances, results were underwhelming. Five boxers—including 2024 Paris Olympians Jennifer Lozano (51kg) and Jajaira Gonzalez (60kg)—were eliminated in their opening bouts, exiting the tournament without a win.
A Year of Mixed Signals
The performance in Astana continues a trend of inconsistency for Team USA in 2025. At the World Boxing Cup in Brazil earlier this year, eight of the 12 American boxers failed to record a win. June brought a brief high point: nine medals, including two gold, at a tournament in the Czech Republic. But the latest campaign in Kazakhstan suggests that Team USA remains a step behind the more active and better-prepared programs from nations like Uzbekistan, Brazil, and the host country Kazakhstan.
Through three major international tournaments this year, Team USA’s overall record stands at 31 wins and 32 losses—an ominous sign with the World Boxing Elite Championships in Liverpool just two months away.
Team USA 2025 Medal Count (through July):
🥇 Gold: 2
🥈 Silver: 5
🥉 Bronze: 10
Uncertain Road Ahead
With the World Boxing Elite Championships approaching and new performance benchmarks in place for USA Boxing’s High Performance Program, roster changes may be on the horizon. Evaluation camps and internal reviews are expected, particularly for athletes who went winless on the international stage.
As the clock ticks toward Liverpool, Team USA’s coaching staff must confront a pressing question: Can the current group rise to meet the sport’s highest standards? Or does the performance in Astana point to deeper structural issues in athlete development, international readiness, and strategic planning?