Perez And Georges Advance To Quarterfinals At Worlds

Yoseline Perez earns 5-0 decision over Paris Olympian; Malachi Georges Earns Second-Round Knockout

The United States closed out day five of the 2025 World Boxing Championships with two more victories, this time from its 54-kilogram representative, Yoseline Perez (Houston, Texas), and the 90-kilogram competitor Malachi Georges (Teaneck, N.J.). Following the wins, Perez and Georges advance to the quarterfinal round of their respective weight classes.

Yoseline Perez continued her successful 2025 campaign with a unanimous decision victory over Ireland’s Jennifer Lehane, advancing her to the quarterfinals of the women’s 54-kilogram division. Perez was in charge from start to finish and utilized her length to keep Lehane at bay throughout the entirety of the bout. After claiming a 3-2 split in the opening round, the Houston, Texas native picked up the pace over the final six minutes and registered 5-0 scores in each of the final two rounds.

“I decided to take a big risk today by switching to southpaw,” Perez noted about her strategy in heading into the matchup. “It wasn’t even part of the plan, but sometimes you’ve gotta just risk it. That’s what I did.”

Despite Lehane attempting to slow the bout with constant, for which she was deducted a point, Perez’s movement around the ring allowed her to wear out the Irish Olympian. Typically, an orthodox boxer, Perez decided to switch her style for the round-of-16 matchup and fluctuated between southpaw and orthodox stances, frustrating Lehane while limiting her typically aggressive strategy.

Malachi Georges capitalized on the moment in his matchup against Hungary’s Levente Kiss in the 90-kilogram round of 16. The American used his athleticism to dance in and out of range before closing out the match in the second round with a devastating left hook to the Hungarian’s liver, dropping Kiss to the canvas and forcing the referee to stop the bout. Georges is gaining recognition for his ability to end a match early with his power, as he has done so twice now within his last two international appearances.

“I’m more and more a student of the game,” Georges stated of his preparation for Monday’s bout. “For this knockout, it was the jab. I’m growing and getting better. I’m starting to pick up on things a lot better.”

Georges blanked Kiss with a unanimous decision in their previous meeting in Usti Nad Labem, Czech Republic, earlier this year, showcasing his familiarity with his Hungarian foe heading into the day. The United States’ 90-kilogram competitor was privy to Kiss’ tendency to throw wide hooks after studying film prior to the matchup. He was ready when the moment presented itself and struck at the perfect opportunity to deliver the knockout blow.

Kelvin Watts was also in action for the United States in the final session of the day against China. While the USA super heavyweight battled throughout the bout, he was defeated via unanimous decision.

Team USA will see two boxers in action during Tuesday’s competition, including women’s 60-kilogram competitor Jajaira Gonzalez and men’s 80-kilogram contender Robby Gonzales. Both boxers will take the ring during the opening session, which is slated to begin at 7 a.m. ET.

Gonzalez, a Paris 2024 Olympian, is scheduled to take on Poland’s Aneta Rygielska in Ring B, bout six, in the round of 16 matchup, beginning at approximately 8:15 a.m. ET. Rygielska has represented her nation three times at world championship events and five times at the European Championships.

Gonzales will square off against Croatia’s Gabrijel Veocic in the round of 16 for the 80-kilogram division in the final bout of the opening session in Ring B, beginning at 10:45 a.m. ET. Gonzales is on the hunt for his second world championship and enters the bout with one win on the week. He will take on a Croatian opponent who earned the gold medal at the 2024 European Games and competed at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Every day of the 2025 World Boxing Championships will be broadcast live and free on worldboxing.org. To follow the five remaining United States boxers competing at the world championships, visit the USA Boxing event page. For all tournament information, go to WorldBoxingLiverpool.com. Team USA’s complete schedule for Tuesday’s action is listed below.

Tuesday, September 9:

Session 1:

60 kg: Jajaira Gonzalez (Glendora, Calif.) vs. Aneta Rygielska, POL – Ring A, Bout 6 | Approximately 8:15 a.m. ET

80 kg: Robby Gonzales (Las Vegas, Nev.) vs. Gabrijel Veocic, CRO – Ring A, Bout 16 | Approximately 10:45 a.m. ET

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