After five wins to start the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan the US boxers finally tasted defeat. 2016 Olympian Mikaela Mayer didn’t need to keep winning to reach Rio thanks to her win in the Americas qualifying tournament but will surely be disappointed by being eliminated this early. Mayer lost 3-0 to China’s Junhua Yin, an Olympic qualifier from the Asian tournament. All three judges had it 39-37. Virginia Fuchs lost to Azerbaijan’s Anna Alimardanova 2-0 after one judge saw it a tie but the other two had it 39-37 against Fuchs. For Fuchs this loss may end her chances of qualifying for the Olympics. She now needs Canada’s Mandy Bujold to advance to the semifinals and earn one of the global qualifying spots and pass the second Americas qualifying spot on to Fuchs, who finished third in that tournament. Bujold is the third seed here and is now in the round of 16.

Sunday will be the busiest day yet for Americans as five will take the ring. 2012 gold medalist Claressa Shields has her second bout in the 75kg division as does Stalacia Leggett in the 57kg division. 2015 Golden Gloves champion Christina Cruz in the 54kg division,  Naomi Graham in the 69k division, and Franchon Crews in the 81kg division will have their first bouts.

19-year-old Jajaira Gonzalez in the 64kg division has the day off while Marlen Esparza in the 45-48kg division and Shadasia Green in the +81kg division, are still waiting for their first bouts.

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

Previous 2016 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships Coverage:
Preview
Thursday Update
Friday Update