Morelle McCane and Rene Camacho Advance to Quarterfinals of World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 03 Jul 2025
McCane Earns RSC in Tournament Debut; Camacho Claims 4-1 Decision in Tournament Opener
ASTANA, Kazakhstan (July 2, 2025) – Team USA sends two more boxers to the World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025 quarterfinals after Morelle McCane (female 65 kg) and Rene Camacho (male 65 kg) each earned wins on Wednesday inside Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov Martial Arts Palace in Astana, Kazakhstan. Six boxers remain in contention for the United States this week, each of whom is one victory from the medal rounds.
McCane earned the first win of the day for Team USA on Wednesday and did so in dominant fashion. She delivered a flurry of heavy-handed shots to her opponent, Croatia's Mariela Steko, throughout the bout and closed the match with an RSC in the second round. All told, McCane earned a trio of standing 8-counts over her opponent and provided a statement performance to her 65-kilogram bracket in the process.
Rene Camacho carried the torch from McCane's victory and cashed in a 4-1 decision over Australia's Gene Keremete later in the second session. The Houston, Texas, native flustered his Australian foe with his speed and his ability to deliver devastating hooks throughout the bout. Camacho has been red hot for the Red, White, and Blue over the past few weeks and continues to perform well at the international level in his first World Boxing Cup with Team USA.
Following their wins on Wednesday, McCane and Camacho advance to the quarterfinal rounds of their respective brackets and aim to enter the medal rounds on Friday, July 4.
Also in action on Wednesday was Jennifer Lozano (female 51 kg), Jajaira Gonzalez (female 60 kg) and Malachi Georges (male 90 kg). While Lozano, Gonzalez and Georges battled their opponents, each suffered defeats to close out their competition in Kazakhstan.
Looking ahead to Thursday's schedule, Yoseline Perez (female 54 kg), Alyssa Mendoza (female 57 kg) and Robby "Rahim" Gonzales (male 80 kg) will return to the ring for their quarterfinal matchups for the United States. Marie Rosendo (female 70 kg) will also enter the ropes for Team USA on Thursday for her tournament debut. Rosendo received a bye in the opening round of her bracket and is prepped and ready to take another swing at her international competition.
Kicking things off for the USA on Thursday is Perez in Ring B, bout one against Turkey's Gamze Soguksu. With a win tomorrow, Perez will be guaranteed her third international medal of the year.
Rosendo returns to the ring after earning a silver medal at the World Boxing Challenge Grand Prix Usti Nad Labem in the Czech Republic last month. She will take on Germany's Leonie Muller in Ring B, bout three.
Gonzales will round out Session 1 for Team USA and will make his second appearance of the week. Gonzales, a 2021 World Champion, will box Germany's Ben Ehis in Ring B, bout nine.
Mendoza is the lone Team USA boxer in contention during Thursday's second session. The Paris 2024 Olympian will square off against Kazakhstan's Aidana Zabynbekova in Ring B, bout two.
USA Boxing Head Coach Billy Walsh (Colorado Springs, Colo.) leads the charge for Team USA at the World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025. National Resident Coach Timothy Nolan (Rochester, N.Y.), Nicole Burleson (Bethany, Okla.) and Eric Zimmerman (Alexandria, Va.) will assist Coach Walsh throughout the week.
To view brackets, bout sheets, and all other tournament information for the World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025, fans can navigate to the event page, linked HERE.
Each session of the World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025 will be broadcast live, free of charge, on the World Boxing YouTube page.
Follow USA Boxing on all social media platforms for an inside look at Team USA.
Thursday, July 3:
Session 1:
54 kg: Yoseline Perez, Houston, Texas/USA vs. Gamze Soguksu, TUR | Ring B, Bout 1
70 kg: Marie Rosendo, Deland, Fla./USA vs. Leonie Muller, GER | Ring B, Bout 3
80 kg: Robby “Rahim” Gonzales, Las Vegas, Nev./USA vs. Ben Ehis, GER | Ring B, Bout 9
Session 2:
57 kg: Alyssa Mendoza, Caldwell, Idaho/USA vs. Aidana Zabynbekova, KAZ | Ring B, Bout 2
INFORMATION:
www.usaboxing.org
Twitter: @USABoxing
Instagram: @USABoxing
Facebook: /USABoxing
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