April 26, 2024

Only eight Americans qualify for Rio boxing team

Ed Mulholland/Getty Images

Former interim WBA champion Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam eliminated light heavyweight representative Jonathan Esquivel earlier today.

The American lineup for the upcoming Olympic games is set and, well, things aren’t looking too hot for the red, white, and blue. Just six men will represent the nation in Rio, which is excellent for health reasons and awful for competitive ones.

Paul Kroll, Cam F. Awesome, Brandon Lynch, and the aforementioned Esquivel all failed to qualify. The women’s team has representatives in two of three divisions, Mikaela Mayer at lightweight and 2012 gold medalist Claressa Shields at middleweight.

Of course, all of this is assuming the Olympics even happen, which isn’t a given considering the absolute logistical nightmare Rio is dealing with at the moment.

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