And then there were two.
On Friday, Team USA’s 20-year-old featherweight (57kg/125 lbs) Alyssa Mendoza — who had won her Round of 32 bout over Tajikistan’s Mijgona Samadova via dramatic split decision, 3-2 — fell on the sharper end of the sword, losing 4-1 against Brazilian Round of 16 opponent Jucielen Cerqueira Romeu.
SEE MORE: U.S. featherweight boxer Alyssa Mendoza wins dramatic opener
The Idaho native was one of several young female American boxers who demonstrated power and promise in Paris: Welterweight (66kg/145lbs) No. 6 seed Morelle McCane received a bye into the Round of 16, where she lost a contentious 3-2 bout against Uzbekistan’s Navbakhor Khamidova; in her opening match, lightweight (60kg/132) Jajaira Gonzalez downed France’s 2016 Rio Olympics gold medalist Estelle Mossely in a stunning upset over the hometown favorite — then lost to Tokyo 2020 silver medalist Beatriz Ferreira, another Brazilian, in the following fight.
SEE MORE: Boxing recap, July 29: Team USA’s Edwards and Gonzalez ousted
Should they qualify for the Los Angeles Games in 2028, Mendoza, McCane, and Gonzalez will be the hometown favorites — with Olympic experience.
Only two of eight Team USA boxers remain medal contenders in Paris, both men whose quarterfinal bouts are scheduled for Saturday: Omari Jones and Jahmal Harvey.
Stay tuned to NBCOlympics.com for boxing results, schedules, news, and video.
© 2024 KOBI-TV NBC5. All rights reserved unless otherwise stated.