Today’s semi-final bouts of the 2019 Emil Jechev Tournament was another successful day for the young American team, finishing with two bronze medals and advancing five boxers into tomorrow’s championship bouts.
Flyweight Jahmal Harvey (Oxon Hill, Md.) once again kicked off the day for Team USA with another dominating unanimous decision victory. His win over Romania’s Marian Radu placed him in his first international final against Yasen Radev of Bulgaria.
Dante Benjamin (Cleveland, Ohio) closed out the first session of the day by taking all five judges cards over Croatia’s Petar Lesmur to advance to the championship bout against Russian Vasily Kaverin.
The second session of the day saw a trio of Americans advance to tomorrow’s finale, including an impressive knockout win by Jett Blackwell (Fresno, Calif.) over Leonit Kuci of Greece. Light flyweight Angel Barrientes (Las Vegas, Nev.) and lightweight Ernesto Mercado (Pomona, Calif.) were victorious in their semifinal bouts over Italian Nicolino Platania and Welsh Ioan Croft to move on to the finals.
Armani Almestica (Orlando, Fla.) and Ralph Clemente (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) fell short of advancing to the finals of their respective weight classes, but leave Bulgaria with a bronze medal, their first international medals.
Follow the final day of boxing by clicking here.
Day 4 Results
49 kg: Angel Barrientes, Las Vegas, Nev./USA, dec. over Nicolino Platania/ITA, 5-0
52 kg: Jahmal Harvey, Oxon Hill, Md./USA, dec. over Marian Radu/ROU, 5-0
60 kg: Ernesto Mercado, Pomona, Calif./USA, dec. over Ion Croft/WAL, 3-2
64 kg: Garan Croft/WAL dec. over Armani Almestica, Orlando, Fla./USA, 4-1
75 kg: Gabriel Veocic/CRO, dec. over Ralph Clemente, Ronkonkoma, N.Y./USA, 3-2
81 kg: Dante Benjamin, Cleveland, Ohio/USA, dec. over Petar Lesmur/CRO, 5-0
91+ kg: Jett Blackwell, Fresno, Calif./USA, wins by KO over Leonit Kuci/KOS, KO-2
Day 5 Schedule
49 kg: Angel Barrientes, Las Vegas, Nev./USA, vs. Ergyunal Sabri/BUL
52 kg: Jahmal Harvey, Oxon Hill, Md./USA, vs. Yasen Radev/BUL
60 kg: Ernesto Mercado, Pomona, Calif./USA, vs. Mikhail SilenskiiRUS
81 kg: Dante Benjamin, Cleveland, Ohio/USA, vs. Vasily Kaverin/RUS
91+ kg: Jett Blackwell, Fresno, Calif./USA, vs. Damil Sharafutdinov/RUS
