Samoan boxer Kealey Perez claimed the gold medal in the women’s 80kg+ division at the 2026 World Boxing U19 Futures Cup on Sunday, marking Samoa’s first-ever gold at a world cup boxing event.
Perez secured the top prize after defeating Tuvalu’s Francis Taafaki in an all-Oceania final, leading a strong showing by Team Samoa on the international stage.
Samoa also claimed a bronze medal, with Anthony Pati taking third place in the men’s 90kg division. Johnsal Semi narrowly missed advancing after a close split decision, while Douglas Pati displayed resilience against a taller opponent. Another Samoan boxer, Daniel Alofipo, saw his campaign end prematurely after receiving an illegal elbow to the temple during a high-pressure bout against a Tajikistani opponent.
The tournament serves as a key qualification pathway for the Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal, later this year.
The Samoan team’s campaign was overseen by Independent Boxing Samoa Inc. (IBS) and supported by an experienced coaching and training staff, including Vitale Perez, Faumuina David Tua, Junior Pati, Faasavalu Pelasio Semi, and Leuatea James Schmidt.
