Cuba returned to glory in the 2017 edition of the World Amateur Boxing Championships. In the ten weight classes held during the tournament, Cuba won five gold medals and and two silvers. Predictably, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan also did well. The United States’ three medals were not predictable, however, as little was expected from Team USA this go around.
Given what they returned from Rio including fighters like Erislandy Savon and Julio César La Cruz, Cuba dominating was not necessary a surprise. Nor was it a surprise that rising amateur boxing powerhouses Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan were able to win a gold and five other medals each. In those countries, some if not all of their amateur team sticks around after the Olympics.
For the United States, however, an Olympic games functions more as a graduation to the paid ranks. Accordingly, the first World Championships after the Olympics is supposed to be a rebuilding event where the young American amateurs get big stage seasoning without being expected to accomplish much.
Yet, three kids did. Troy Isley and Freudis Rojas won bronze at middleweight and junior welterweight respectively while Duke Ragan earned his silver at bantamweight. All three of these young men are 19 years old. There is some talk that maybe Ragan could have gotten the nod in the gold medal match as well, but alas it was not to be. With the 2020 games three years off, it remains to be seen if any of the medal trio will stick around in the amateur system long enough for Tokyo. Whatever they decide, they are now prospects to watch.