Jennifer Lozano, Roscoe Hill and Joshua Edwards headline the U.S. boxing team for Paris 2024
With the final boxing Olympic Qualifying tournament, the team of U.S. boxers nominated to the Olympic Games Paris 2024 is complete. The United States leads the all-time Olympic medal count, with 50 gold and 117 overall, and this group will look to add to the American lead. Team USA will include Alyssa Mendoza, Roscoe Hill, Omari Jones, Jajaira Gonzalez, Jamal Harvey, Jennifer Lozano, Morelle McCane and Joshua Edwards.
The boxers obtained a quota for the U.S. with their performances at the Pan-American Games in October of 2023, the Boxing Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy, in March, and the Boxing Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand, in June. Get to know the eight boxers and the road they took to Paris.
As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.
Jennifer Lozano, 50 kg
Coming from the border town of Laredo, Texas, Lozano took up boxing to help her deal with bullies. Now, with a second-place finish at the Pan-Ams, she is headed from a small town to Paris.
Alyssa Mendoza, 57 kg
Trained by her father, Mendoza’s trip from her home in Caldwell, Idaho, to Paris was by way of the Bangkok Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Mendoza won every bout in the tournament by unanimous decision to obtain a quota for Team USA.
Jajaira Gonzalez, 60 kg
Gonzalez’s story is one of trusting herself. She finished second at the 2016 Olympic Trials, then took a step away from the sport. Though she was back boxing for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, it was Rashida Ellis who represented the U.S. at her weight. But Gonzalez kept fighting, and secured a quota for the U.S. with a third place at the Pan-Ams.
Morelle McCane, 66 kg
McCane has been near the top of her weight class for years, but it was at the 2023 Pan-Ams that a top-two finish helped her secure a quota for the United States for Paris 2024.
Roscoe Hill, 51 kg
Boxing is in Roscoe Hill’s blood, as his father helped train greats like George Foreman and Archie Moore. Now, he can try to win a gold medal, like Foreman did at the Olympic Games Mexico City 1968.
Jahmal Harvey, 57 kg
Harvey’s athletic career started with American football, until his football coach recommended he try boxing. Undersized for football, Harvey had found his sport in boxing. With a gold medal at the Pan-Ams, he secured a quota for the U.S. for Paris.
Omari Jones, 71 kg
A native of Orlando, Jones was the only American boxer to secure a quota at the tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy. He took a 4-1 victory over India’s Nishant Dev to secure the spot for Team USA.
Joshua Edwards, 92+ kg
When you’re watching Edwards, keep an eye out for his defensive prowess and his speed. He used those skills to win gold at the Pan-American games, securing a quota for the U.S.