BOISE, Idaho — Alyssa Mendoza is headed to the women's featherweight round of 16 at the 2024 Olympics after earning a thrilling victory Tuesday morning in her Paris debut.
Team USA's youngest boxer defeated Mijgona Samadova of Tajikistan in a 3-2 split decision. Mendoza is two wins away from the medal round on Saturday, Aug. 10.
The rising 20-year-old star jumped out to a 3-2 lead following the first round, before Samadova received the second-round nod from four of five judges. Mendoza responded with a massive third round to seal the deal, receiving the advantage for the final frame from each judge.
“The second round I got caught the most,” Mendoza said. “The third round I started moving to my right more when she was orthodox, and I felt like I landed cleaner punches in the third round.”
Mendoza advances to face Jucielen Cerqueira Romeu of Brazil at 8:18 a.m. MT Friday, Aug. 2. The second-round bout airs live on Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com and the NBC and NBC Sports apps.
If the Caldwell native's historic run continues with another win Friday, she would claim a spot in the women's 57 kg quarterfinals on Sunday, Aug. 4, eyeing a bid to the semifinals on Aug. 7.
“It was a good first fight and it was tougher than I expected,” Mendoza said. “It was a good test and good first fight and I look forward to the next one.”
Mendoza earned a spot in the Olympics by winning all four of her bouts by unanimous decision at the second World Qualification Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand, cemented with a finale win over Maud Van Der Toorn from the Netherlands on June 2.
Mendoza is one step closer to bringing a medal back to the Gem State, just two years after graduating from Middleton High School and moving to Colorado Springs by herself to advance her young career at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.
“I know people might think going to Paris is an award itself, but I really don’t want to go for a participation award," Mendoza told KTVB. "I want to come back with a medal.”