Canadian boxer Wright just misses qualification
Canadian boxer Mckenzie Wright fell just short of making the Olympics on Sunday, beaten 5-0 by Mexico’s Fatima in the quarterfinals of the women’s 50-kilogram division at a last-ditch qualifier.
A win and the 34-year-old from Oakville would have joined Canadians Tammara Thibeault (75 kilograms) and welterweight Wyatt Sanford (63.5 kilograms) in Paris next month.
They booked their ticket by virtue of gold-medal performances at last year’s Pan American Games. Both were members of Canada’s fiveboxer team for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and Thibeault was a world champion in 2022.
The Paris boxing competition features 13 weight classes — seven for men and six for women.
Wright was the last of nine Canadian trying to punch their Olympic ticket at the Bangkok qualifier.
Scarlett Delgado, Terris Smith, Sara Kali, Junior Petanqui, Keven Beausejour and Doni Foreman lost earlier.
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.
Wright earned a 5-0 decision over Serbia’s Nina Radovanovic on Saturday to move into the final eight.
Wright, a Niagara College’s practical nursing program graduate, won her third senior national title in 2023 after a four-year hiatus from boxing. She also claimed bronze at last year’s Pan American Games.
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.