BELGRADE, SERBIA - Team USA started off the 2021 Elite Men’s World Championships in strong fashion, finishing the day 2-0, in Belgrade, Serbia.

Jahmal Harvey (Oxon Hill, Md.) set the tone for Team USA at these World Championships, as he was the first American to take to the ring. The 2020 USA Boxing Elite National Champion came back after being down in the first round on all five judges’ cards after a clean shot caused him to slip on his opponents’ foot, resulting in a standing eight count.

However, the featherweight came back strong in the remaining two rounds, taking four out of the five judges’ cards in both rounds to secure the 4-1 victory over Belgium’s Vasile Usturoi. Harvey will have two days of rest before returning to the ring to face Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov of Uzbekistan, the reigning World Champion.

Welterweight Omari Jones (Orlando, Fla.) was the second American scheduled to compete today, however, his opponent did not show up for the bout, resulting Jones to win by walkover. Jones will wait another two days before getting the opportunity to take to the ring when he will go against Scotland’s Tyler Jolly.

Flyweight Roscoe Hill (Spring, Texas) will be the lone member of Team USA to box tomorrow. He will kick off the first session of the day in Ring A against Mario Lavegar Cepeda of Dominican Republic. 

This year’s Elite Men’s World Championships has brought over 500 boxers from more than 80 different countries with hopes of winning a world title. USA Boxing is being guided by Billy Walsh (Colorado Springs, Colo.), USA Boxing National Head Coach, Chad Wigle (Colorado Springs, Colo.), National Development Coach, Jose Polanco (Colorado Springs, Colo.), National Strength and Conditioning Coach, alongside assistant coaches Timothy Nolan (Rochester, N.Y.) and Pete Rojas Jr. (Grand Prairie, Texas).

Day 1 Results

57 kg: Jahmal Harvey, Oxon Hill, Md./USA, dec. over Vasile Usturoi/BEL, 4-1

67 kg: Omari Jones, Orlando, Fla./USA, won by walkover over Djo Kayala Engulu/COD, WO

Day 2 Schedule

51 kg: Roscoe Hill, Spring, Texas/USA, vs. Mario Lavegar Cepeda/DOM