Yarisel Ramirez to Compete for USA Boxing at Tokyo Games

Yarisel Ramirez will be gunnin’ for gold this month…

The 22-year-old Cuban-born featherweight boxer has been added to the Tokyo Games boxing tournament, becoming the 10th member of the U.S. team to qualify.

Yarisel Ramirez

She’d already traveled to Japan in anticipation of gaining a late slot, and news of her addition by USA Boxing set off a celebration with her teammates.

Ramirez is the fourth American fighter to be awarded a late place at the Olympics. After the U.S. initially faced the prospect of heading to Tokyo with its smallest team in Olympic history, USA Boxing actually will have two more boxers in Tokyo than it had in Rio five years ago.

“Yarisel has been in this final training camp working extremely hard, waiting for this opportunity if her name were to be called,” said Mike McAtee, USA Boxing’s executive director. “During this whole process, Yarisel has showed nothing but maturity, determination and the drive to fulfill her Olympic dreams.”

Ramirez is getting one of the world qualifier allocation slots declined by Costa Rica’s Julianna Rodriguez and Argentina’s Leonela Sánchez, according to the website of the Boxing Task Force running the Tokyo tournament. Sánchez won the gold medal at the 2019 Pan American Games while Ramirez won bronze.

Ramirez was born in Cuba, and she lives and trains in Las Vegas. Her first fight will be on July 24, the opening day of competition in Tokyo and exactly two weeks from her addition to the field.

“Through hard work, perseverance and faith, you can live your dreams,” Ramirez said.

With Ramirez’s addition, USA Boxing is currently the only team with a representative in all five women’s divisions in Tokyo. The Olympics added two weight classes — including the 57-kilogram (125.7 pounds) division, Ramirez’s featherweight, class — and increased the total number of women from 36 to 100 for the sport’s third trip to the Olympics.

The U.S. is the most successful nation in Olympic boxing history, winning 50 gold medals and 114 total medals. But primarily thanks to qualification changes caused by the coronavirus pandemic, only six Americans — and just two men — were in the initial version of the Tokyo Olympic field two months ago.

Three American men were added to the field last month after being awarded world qualifier allocation slots: middleweight Troy Isley, featherweight Duke Ragan and lightweight Keyshawn Davis, who is likely the Americans’ best gold medal hope among the men.

Javier Martinez Signs Multiyear Contract with Top Rank

Javier Martinez is turning pro…

The 24-year-old Latino fighter, USA Boxing‘s top-rated boxer at 165 pounds, has signed a multiyear contract with Top Rank.

Javier Martinez

The Milwaukee native will make his professional debut on June 30 in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Conference Center.

Martinez won the 2020 U.S. Olympic trials, but he was only selected as an alternate for the team. When that decision was made, Martinez decided to turn professional.

“I knew it would be hard for me to qualify for the Olympics, so when I found out they chose someone else, it made no sense for me to stay,” Martinez said. “I got this opportunity from Top Rank, so why not? I have a great promotional company and manager behind me.”

“I’ve just been beating everyone in the country the past three, four years, so the time was right to make my next move,” he added.

“With Javier’s amateur credentials, fan-friendly style and Top Rank’s amazing track record at developing amateurs into champions, this is a win-win for everyone,” said Tim VanNewhouse, Martinez’s manager. “I look forward to a big future for Javier, and I’m eager for everyone to see his pro debut on ESPN June 30.”

VanNewhouse scouted Martinez extensively before signing him to a management contract after the Olympic trials back in December.

“When you’re watching the amateurs, when you’re looking at the kids, you want to figure out who’s really trying to hurt somebody from the opening bell,” he said. “Javier’s looking to hurt you.”

Martinez, who is trained by Javier Capetillo, captured his first of five national titles at age 13 and won a USA Elite National Championship in 2018.

VanNewhouse says he will be competing as a middleweight as begins his professional journey.

“I do this for my family. I do it for my kid,” said Martinez, a father to a 7-year-old son. “I want to represent Milwaukee and my parents, who came to this country with nothing and built a life for my brothers and me.”