USA Opens Strong at 2026 Gee Bee Tournament In Helsinki
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 11 Apr 2026
Team USA Goes Undefeated on Day One
HELSINKI, Finland. (April 9, 2026) – USA Boxing’s Elite High Performance Squad is off to a red-hot start in Helsinki, Finland, for the 2026 Gee Bee Boxing Tournament. Team USA secured its first two medals of the tournament after Dustin Jimenez (65 kilograms) and Alexis Proctor (65 kilograms) earned unanimous decision victories.
The United States went undefeated with three victories on Thursday, beginning with Jayshannet Zapata (54 kilograms). The New York native made her international debut against Scotland’s Stephanie Kemacha, and after winning the first two rounds 4-1 each, she secured her first international win via a 3-2 decision. Zapata moves on to the quarterfinals, where she will now face Switzerland’s Miette Bagutti in bout four on Friday, beginning at approximately 5:45 a.m. ET.
Following Zapata’s victory, Alexis Proctor (65 kilograms) also secured her first international victory for the United States after earning a 5-0 victory over Sweden’s Dina Daoud. Proctor punched her ticket into the semifinals with the performance, securing her first international medal in the process. She will now face Norway’s Madeleine Angelsen on Saturday.
Rounding out day one for the Stars and Stripes was Dustin Jimenez (65 kilograms), who returned to international competition in dominant fashion after earning Team USA’s second 5-0 victory of the day and the first international win of his amateur career.
Jimenez won every judge's vote in all three rounds, including a 10-8 score in the third round over Norway’s Yusup Jama Yusup, advancing the New York native into his bracket's semifinals. With Thursday’s win, Jimenez assured his first international medal, and he will now face France’s Mohamed Ounai on Saturday.
Team USA will have four boxers entering the ring on Friday, with three of them making their international debut. Zapata will be the first American to step into the ring, followed by Deborah Grant (57 kilograms), who will take on Belgium’s Ana Khunjua. Grant will box in bout seven at approximately 6:30 a.m. ET.
Also making their international and tournament debuts on Friday are Yahir Diaz-Martinez (60 kilograms) and Kentrell Rouser (70 kilograms). Diaz-Martinez will go up against Belgium’s Nadir Boulaiz in bout 10 at approximately 7:10 a.m ET, while Rouser will square off with Switzerland’s Timm Kellenberger at approximately 9:10 a.m. ET.
Throughout the competition at the 2026 Gee Bee Boxing Tournament, the United States will be led by National Development Coach Edward Fonteneaux (Fayetteville, N.C.), and assisted by Holly Gregson (Idaho Falls, Idaho), Billy Rafalko (Philadelphia, Pa.), and Ronald Wright (Columbus, Ga.).
Additional tournament information for the 2026 Gee Bee Boxing Tournament, including the broadcast links, daily bout sheets, results, tournament updates, and more, will be uploaded to the event page on the USA Boxing website, where followers can find the 2026 GeeBee Boxing Tournament.
Thursday, April 9 Results
Women’s 54 KG: Jayshannet Zapata, USA vs. Stephanie Kemacha, SCO | W 3-2 Women’s 65 KG: Alexis Proctor, USA vs. Dina Daoud, SWE | W 5-0 Men’s 65 KG: Dustin Jimenez vs. Yusup Jama Yusup, NOR | W 5-0
Friday, April 10 Schedule
Women’s 54 KG: Jayshannet Zapata, USA vs. Miette Bagutti, SUI
Women’s 57 KG: Deborah Grant, USA vs. Ana Khunjua, BEL
Men’s 60 KG: Yahir Diaz-Martinez, USA vs. Nadir Boulaiz, BEL
Men’s 70 KG: Kentrell Rouser, USA vs. Timm Kellenberger, SUI
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