The 2026 PanAmerican Boxing Confederation (PBC) Elite Continental Championships got underway in Puebla, Mexico yesterday. 21 preliminary bouts took place across two sessions on the opening day of competition.
The afternoon session opened with contests in the women’s 57kg division. Paraguay’s Minerva Montiel secured the first victory of the tournament with a unanimous decision win over Colombia’s Rosa Ternera, while Canada’s Victoria Vergos and the Dominican Republic’s Genesis De La Rosa both recorded comfortable 5:0 victories against Ecuador’s Helen Sanchez and Puerto Rico’s Coraliz Cruz respectively.
Host nation Mexico celebrated its first success when Guadalupe Torres defeated Cuba’s Magda Masso by a 4:1 split decision in another women’s 57kg contest.
In the men’s 90kg, where USA boxer Joseph Awinongya Jr. produced the fastest stoppage of the day, earning an RSC against Costa Rica’s Jaisen Steve Robinson Kohn after just 42 seconds of the first round.
Colombia’s Harol Martinez recorded a third-round RSC win against Suriname’s Domelzo Schet in the men’s 65kg, while Cuba’s Luis Vinet earned a 5:0 unanimous decision over Paraguay’s Arnold Centurión. The men’s +90kg division saw Argentina’s Enzo Gallardo defeat Chile’s Andrew Salgado by a 4:1 split decision, while Colombia’s Juan Patiño advanced via walkover.
The evening session began in the women’s 54kg, where former world champion Yeni Arias of Colombia overcame Chile’s Denisse Bravo by a 4:1 split decision. The Dominican Republic’s Estefani Almanzar followed with a comprehensive unanimous decision victory over Cuba’s Carysney Garcia.
The final bout of the day produced one of the closest contests of the session, with Puerto Rico’s Eliezer Brito edging Mexico’s Brandon Fernandez by a 3:2 split decision.
Competition continues Monday, 19 October, with 25 bouts scheduled across two sessions in Puebla.
Every single bout of the competition will be livestreamed on World Boxing TV (English) and Panam Sports Channel (Spanish).
The best way to keep up to date with the competition is via the PanAmerican Boxing account.
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Press release issued by PBC and adapted by World Boxing.