America’s next generation of boxing stars delivers on the world stage as McNealy and Elmore capture gold, leading Team USA to five medals in Budva, Montenegro
BUDVA, Montenegro – The future of American boxing delivered on the world stage Tuesday as Marley McNealy and Lauryn Elmore captured gold medals at the 2026 World Boxing U19 Championships, leading Team USA to an impressive five-medal finish in Budva, Montenegro.
After 12 days of international competition, the Stars and Stripes closed the tournament with two gold medals, one silver, and two bronze medals, showcasing the depth, determination, and championship potential of USA Boxing’s Youth High Performance Team.
The American delegation entered the championships with 15 athletes, including eight men and seven women, and concluded its campaign with five boxers standing on the podium.
Tuesday’s championship action belonged to Team USA’s women, with McNealy and Elmore delivering gold-medal performances while Ruby Lopez added a hard-earned silver.
Marley McNealy Strikes Gold with Championship Performance
San Francisco native Marley McNealy set the tone for Team USA, capturing the women’s 70 kg world championship with a 4-1 split decision victory over Uzbekistan’s Maftuna Yangieva.
McNealy wasted little time establishing control of the championship bout, sweeping the opening round 5-0 before claiming the second round 4-1. With gold within reach, she maintained her composure through a competitive final round, edging Yangieva 3-2 to secure the biggest victory of her tournament.
Her road to gold featured four impressive wins, including two unanimous decisions, one referee-stopped contest (RSC), and her championship-clinching split decision.
The victory represents another significant milestone for McNealy, who previously earned bronze at the World Boxing Futures Cup in Thailand earlier this year.
Now a two-time international medalist, McNealy closes her 2026 campaign with a world championship gold medal and growing momentum on the international stage.
Lauryn Elmore Mounts Stunning Comeback to Capture World Championship Gold
Team USA captain Lauryn Elmore delivered one of the day’s most compelling performances, overcoming an early deficit to defeat Russia’s Bella Zueva by a commanding 5-0 unanimous decision in the women’s 65 kg championship bout.
The Sacramento native faced immediate adversity after dropping the opening round on all five judges’ scorecards.
But champions are often defined by how they respond when challenged.
Elmore answered emphatically.
Displaying tremendous resilience and composure, she swept the second round 5-0 before repeating that performance in the third, completing a remarkable turnaround to secure her second international gold medal of 2026.
Elmore’s championship journey included four victories in Montenegro, two by unanimous decision and two by narrow 3-2 split decisions.
Even more impressive, the Team USA captain finishes her 2026 international campaign with a perfect 7-0 record and two gold medals.
Her latest triumph brings her career international medal count to three, including a bronze medal at the 2025 Brandenburg Cup in Germany.
For Elmore, the world championship victory provides a fitting conclusion to an undefeated international season.
Ruby Lopez Battles Her Way to World Championship Silver
While Team USA celebrated two world champions, Ruby Lopez added another outstanding performance to the American medal count.
Competing in the women’s 51 kg division, the Napa, California, native entered Tuesday’s championship final riding the momentum of four consecutive tournament victories.
Facing Uzbekistan’s Nazokat Mardonova, Lopez battled through three competitive rounds before dropping a 4-1 split decision, earning a silver medal.
Her journey to the championship bout was anything but easy.
Lopez secured a 3-2 victory over China to guarantee herself a medal before advancing to the final with a 4-0 semifinal victory. Earlier in the tournament, she recorded both a unanimous decision win and an RSC victory.
Although she narrowly missed the top of the podium, Lopez’s four-win campaign demonstrated her ability to compete against elite international opposition.
Her silver medal gave Team USA its third podium finish of championship Tuesday.
Asaan Jenkins and Guadalupe Ruiz Add Bronze Medals
Team USA’s success extended beyond the championship finalists, with Asaan Jenkins and Guadalupe Ruiz contributing two additional medals.
Jenkins, competing in the men’s 65 kg division, secured bronze after recording four tournament victories.
The Washington, D.C., native’s performance earned him his second bronze medal of 2026, further establishing his credentials among America’s emerging boxing prospects.
In the women’s 54 kg division, Anaheim, California’s Guadalupe Ruiz added another international achievement to her growing résumé.
Ruiz claimed bronze after winning two bouts in Montenegro, securing her second medal of the year following a gold-medal performance in Thailand.
Together, Jenkins and Ruiz helped complete an impressive five-medal showing for the American delegation.
Five Medals, Two World Champions: Team USA Finishes 2026 Strong
The 2026 World Boxing U19 Championships provided another opportunity for America’s next generation of boxers to test themselves against international competition.
With McNealy and Elmore leading the charge, Team USA finished with:
- 2 Gold Medals
- 1 Silver Medal
- 2 Bronze Medals
The tournament also marked the conclusion of USA Boxing’s international competition schedule for 2026.
With the championship campaign officially complete, the USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team will shift its attention toward the 2027 calendar year.
For McNealy, Elmore, and their fellow medalists, Montenegro provided more than another international competition. It offered an opportunity to demonstrate that America’s next generation of boxing talent is ready to make its mark.
Two world champions. Five medals. One Team USA.
2026 World Boxing U19 Championships: October 27 Results
| Division | USA Boxer | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women’s 70 kg | Marley McNealy | Maftuna Yangieva (UZB) | Win 4-1 |
| Women’s 51 kg | Ruby Lopez | Nazokat Mardonova (UZB) | Loss 1-4 |
| Women’s 65 kg | Lauryn Elmore | Bella Zueva (RUS) | Win 5-0 |
Complete Team USA Medal Results
| Boxer | Division | Medal | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marley McNealy | Women’s 70 kg | 🥇 Gold | San Francisco, CA |
| Lauryn Elmore | Women’s 65 kg | 🥇 Gold | Sacramento, CA |
| Ruby Lopez | Women’s 51 kg | 🥈 Silver | Napa, CA |
| Asaan Jenkins | Men’s 65 kg | 🥉 Bronze | Washington, D.C. |
| Guadalupe Ruiz | Women’s 54 kg | 🥉 Bronze | Anaheim, CA |
FINAL MEDAL COUNT: 5 — TWO GOLD, ONE SILVER, TWO BRONZE
Source: USA Boxing
