The USA had six men and two female boxers in Brazil for the 2016 Olympics. The big winner was returning 2012 Gold medalist Claressa Shields of Flint, MI, defeating Nouchka Foatija of the Netherlands in the 165 weight division to become the first USA boxer to win back to back Gold Medals. She scored 3-0 shut outs against Laraslava Laukushiva of Russia and Dariga Shakimona of KAZ. The other female boxer was Mikaela Mayer losing to Anastasiia Beliakova of Russia after posting a first round win at 132. Mayer is from L.A. and fought out of North Michigan University.

The big winners for the men’s team was Shakur Stevenson, of Newark, NJ, at 123 who won a Silver Medal losing in the finals to Robeisy Ramirez Carrazana of Cuba. Stevenson won by walk over against a Russian and defeated a Mongolian. Nico Hernandez, of Wichita, KS, scored wins over an Italian and a Russian before losing in the semi-final round to Hasanboy Dusmatov of UZB for a Bronze Medal in the 108 division.

Gary Antuanne Russell, of Capitol Heights, MD, defeated boxers from Thailand and Haiti then lost a controversial decision to Fuzliddin Gaifnazarov of UZB. Antonio Vargas, of Kissimmee, FL, at 114 defeated Brazil’s Juiliao Neto before losing to Fazlidden Gaibnazarov of UZB. Carlos Balderas, of Santa Maria, CA, scored a pair of wins by 3-0 over boxers from Japan and KAZ before losing to Lazaro Alvarez of Cuba at 132. Charles Conwell, of Cleveland, OH, at 165 lost in his first match to Krishan Vikas, of IND.