SafeX Pro|US boxer Jajaira Gonzalez beats French gold medalist, quiets raucous crowd

2025-05-03 01:47:02source:TradeEdgecategory:Finance

Editor's note: Follow the latest Olympics live results,SafeX Pro medal count and updates for Saturday, July 27.

PARIS – The rumbling has begun at the Paris Olympics, and round one between the United States and France goes to the Americans.

Jajaira Gonzalez of the United States defeated France’s Estelle Mossely, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist, Saturday night in the opening round of the boxing tournament.

“This might sound a little cocky, but I don’t fear anybody,’’ said Gonzalez, 27, who is making her Olympic debut. “I don’t care what they’ve won, what they’ve done. I just like to think that I’m the best. And, yeah, they may have won this or that, but I’m here now.’’

Not only did Gonzalez outpunch Mossely during their three-round bout, but she also quieted a raucous crowd that spent much of the bout chanting, singing, clapping and booing.

2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.

2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.

They booed Gonzalez when she entered North Paris Arena for the fight and they booed the outcome of a bout fought at 60 kg (about 132 pounds).

Gonzalez won the fight by split decision on points over Mossely, who is 11-0-1 as a pro but returned to the amateur ranks in a quest for more Olympic gold.

“As soon as I heard the crowd booing me, it really turned me up,’’ Gonzalez said. “In other words, it really motivated me. … I was just having fun. That's why I think I looked over at the crowd and I smiled. I really wanted to blow a kiss.’’

Instead, she settled for delivering punches that helped get the rumbling off to a rousing start.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

More:Finance

Recommend

California DMV apologizes for license plate that some say mocks Oct. 7 attack on Israel

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The California Department of Motor Vehicles has apologized for an “unacceptable a

Hezbollah destroys Israeli surveillance cameras along the Lebanese border as tension soars

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group said Monday it has started destroying surveillance

Massachusetts governor warns state’s shelter system is nearing capacity with recent migrant families

BOSTON (AP) — The statewide emergency family shelter system will reach its capacity by the end of th