By Canadian Press

Canadian boxer McKenzie Wright one win away from qualifying for Paris Olympics

Jun 1, 2024 | 10:39 AM

BANGKOK — Canadian boxer Mckenzie Wright earned a 5-0 decision over Serbia’s Nina Radovanovic on Saturday to move within one win of punching her ticket to Paris in a last-ditch Olympic qualifier.

Wright, who turned 34 on Friday, meets Mexico’s Fatima Herrera on Sunday with an Olympic berth on the line.

The 50-kilogram fighter from Oakville, Ont., is the last of the nine Canadians still alive at the tournament. Scarlett Delgado lost a 5-0 points decision earlier Saturday to Mongolia’s Enkhjargal Munguntsetseg in the 54-kg class.

Wright lost the first round on three of the five judges’ cards but came on strong in the final two rounds, using effective movement and counter-punching to frustrate the Serb.

Wright, a graduate of Niagara College’s practical nursing program, won her third senior national title in 2023 after a four-year hiatus from boxing. She also won bronze at last year’s Pan American Games.

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Delgado’s bout turned in the second round when the Canadian was docked a point for excessive holding against the taller Mongolian, a bronze medallist at the 2023 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.

The Bangkok qualifier, which runs through Monday, determines the final 51 quota places (23 for women and 28 for men) for the Paris Games this summer.

Delgado finished one win short of the Paris Olympics at a first World Qualification Tournament in Busto Arzizio, Italy, from Feb. 29 to March 12.

Competitors essentially had to finish in the top four in Italy to secure Olympic qualification, although that figure varied in some weight classes. Canada had two athletes finish in the top eight — Delgado and super-heavyweight Alexis Barriere, who subsequently opted to focus on a pro career.

Competitors also need to crack the top four in Bangkok to get to Paris. That measuring stick can change, however, given host France is guaranteed a maximum of six quota places (three for women and three for men) so a country can claim a spot in a weight class even if it doesn’t qualify a fighter.

There are no title bouts in Bangkok, with action in each weight class coming to a halt when the final Olympic berths are determined.

Canadians Terris Smith, Sara Kali, Junior Petanqui, Keven Beausejour and Doni Foreman lost earlier in Bangkok.

Marie Alahmadieh didn’t make it to her first bout due to “unforeseen health-related issues,” according to Boxing Canada. Victor Tremblay failed to make weight for his first fight in the 57-kilogram bracket.

Canada has already qualified two boxers for Paris, which features 13 weight classes — seven for men and six for women.

Middleweight Tammara Thibeault (75 kilograms) and welterweight Wyatt Sanford (63.5 kilograms) booked their ticket by virtue of gold-medal performances at last year’s Pan American Games.

Both were members of Canada’s five-boxer team for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and Thibeault was a world champion in 2022.

Olympic boxing qualification comes in the form of several steps. The first were five continental qualifiers, with the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, covering the Americas.

Canada has won 17 Olympic boxing medals (three gold, seven silver and seven bronze), but none since 1996 when heavyweight David Defiagbon won silver in Atlanta.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2024

The Canadian Press