A U.S. Olympic boxing team that will be exclusively first-time Olympians is closer to being named.
A total of 27 boxers advanced from the Olympic trials in a complicated process that will likely be finalized at a last-chance global qualifying tournament in May in Paris.
Before that, every Olympic trials finalist from the eight men’s divisions and five women’s divisions goes into the new year with a chance at the Tokyo Games. Plus super heavyweight Richard Torrez Jr., who missed trials with a medical exemption.
But the U.S. is not guaranteed any Olympic boxing spots.
A training camp and international tournament in January will determine the one boxer per division (13 total) who will then compete internationally to clinch an Olympic berth.
Each may get two chances to qualify -- a North and South American tournament in Buenos Aires from March 26-April 3 and the global event in Paris two weeks later.
The best U.S. Olympic medal hopes include flyweight Ginny Fuchs, who won her second straight trials title. Four years ago, Fuchs failed to secure her spot at the Rio Games in international qualifiers.
Instead, she went to Brazil as a sparring partner for qualified U.S. women and couldn’t bear to watch the Opening Ceremony from off-site. Fuchs, a 2018 World bronze medalist, skipped this year’s world championships to manage obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Keyshawn Davis was the only U.S. male or female boxer to make a final in an Olympic division at the world championships this year, taking lightweight silver. Davis, 20, won trials after his scheduled final opponent missed the bout for medical reasons.
None of the more than 100 boxers who competed at trials at the Golden Nugget Casino and Resort in Lake Charles, La., had Olympic experience. Stars from Rio, including gold medalist Claressa Shields and silver medalist Shakur Stevenson, have turned pro.
A full list of the 27 boxers who advanced from trials:
Men
Flyweight
Abraham Perez (trials champion)
Anthony Herrera
Featherweight
Bruce Carrington (trials champion)
David Navarro
Lightweight
Keyshawn Davis (trials champion)
Ernesto Mercado
Welterweight
Delante “Tiger” Johnson (trials champion)
Freudis Rojas Jr.
Middleweight (Monday box-off)
Joseph Hicks
Javier Martinez
Light Heavyweight
Rahim Gonzales (trials champion)
Atif Olberton
Heavyweight (Monday box-off)
Jamar Talley
Darius Fulghum
Super Heavyweight
Antonio Mireles (trials champion)
Jeremiah Milton
Richard Torrez Jr. (medical exemption)
Women
Flyweight
Ginny Fuchs (trials champion)
Christina Cruz
Featherweight (Monday box-off)
Lupe Gutierrez
Andrea Medina
Lightweight
Rashida Ellis (trials champion)
Amelia Moore
Welterweight
Oshae Jones (trials champion)
Briana Che
Middleweight
Naomi Graham (trials champion)
Morelle McCane
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