It’s a vitally important week ahead in Astana, Kazakhstan as the best amateur women’s boxers in the world will be competing for the title of World Champion and in three weight classes, a spot in the Olympics. The US team of ten includes two boxers returning from the 2012 Olympic team. Claressa Shields is of course the favorite in the 75kg division where she won gold as a 17-year-old while Marlen Esparza will be competing in the 45-48kg division instead of the 51kg division where she won bronze in London. The 45-48kg division is not an Olympic weight class so she will not be contesting a spot in Rio, the US competitor in the 51kg weight class is Virginia Fuchs. The other American going for a spot in Rio will be Mikaela Mayer in the 60kg division.

The other six entrants for the US are 2015 Golden Gloves champion Christina Cruz in the 54kg division, Stalacia Leggett in the 57kg division, 19-year-old Jajaira Gonzalez in the 64kg division, Naomi Graham in the 69k division, Franchon Crews in the 81kg division, and Shadasia Green in the +81kg division.

In the three Olympic weight classes (51kg, 60kg, 75kg) the four semifinalists will earn Olympic berths.

Preliminaries starting Thursday and running through Monday will narrow the field in each weight class to eight for Tuesday’s quarterfinals. The two US boxers competing on the first day will both be in weight classes with Olympic spots available, Virginia Fuchs and Mikaela Mayer.