The US is off to a good start in their quest to qualify three Olympians at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan as the two boxers they had going on Thursday each advanced in weight classes that will compete in the Olympics. In the 51kg weight class is Virginia Fuchs was a strong winner defeating Brazil’s Grazieli Jesus De Sousa 3-0 with all three judges scoring it 40-36. Things were a lot tighter in the match between Mikaela Mayer and Esra Yildiz of Turkey in the 60kg division. Two of the three judges scored it 38-38 but preferred Mayer as the winner with the third narrowly awarding the match on points to Mayer 39-37. Both Fuchs and Mayer will have Friday off before competing again on Saturday.

Getting underway on Friday will be Stalacia Leggett in the 57kg division, 19-year-old Jajaira Gonzalez in the 64kg division, and 2012 gold medalist Claressa Shields in the 75kg division.

Preliminaries continue Friday and run through Monday to narrow the field in each weight class to eight for Tuesday’s quarterfinals.

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