David Barron , Houston Chronicle May 18, 2016 Updated: May 18, 2016 10:41 a.m.
Houston boxer Virginia Fuchs' last-chance drive to make the Rio de Janeiro Olympics will begin Thursday against a fighter from Brazil at the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships.
Fuchs, 28, drew Graziele Jesus de Souza in the women's flyweight (51 kilograms/112.4 pounds) division in the opening round of the championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. The championships are the final qualifying event for Rio. Fuchs must finish in the top four in the 49-fighter division to advance to the Olympics.
This will be only the fifth international tournament for Fuchs, who twice upset 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Marlen Esparza of Houston at the USA Boxing Olympic Trials to earn a chance to qualify for Rio. She was third at a continental qualifying event in March, defeating Jesus de Souza in the bronze medal match, but was one spot short of clinching an Olympic bid.
"I learn from every tournament," Fuchs said. "In Argentina, I got ahead of the moment. I've learned to focus on what is in front of me. I got overconfident, and with anybody I face at worlds, I'm not going to overlook anybody."
Fuchs, who grew up in Kemah and trains at the Baby Bull Boxing Academy in Houston, earlier this year won a test event at the Olympic venue in Rio de Janeiro. She wrapped up a five-week training camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., before leaving with the U.S. team for Kazakhstan.
"Training went well, and I'm focused on my goal of getting in the top four and doing that, nothing less," she said. "I'm ready for anything they put in front of me."
If Fuchs beats the Brazilian boxer, she will face Anna Alimardanova of Azerbaijan, who had an opening-round bye, on Saturday, and must win that and two more bouts to reach the semifinals and clinch an Olympic spot.
The women's flyweight division concludes with semifinals on May 26 and the gold medal bout on May 27.
Fuchs also could be awarded an Olympic berth if Mandy Bujold of Canada or Victoria Ingrit Lorena Valencia of Colombia finish in the top four, since both already have qualified from the Americas region.
Esparza also will compete at worlds in the 48 kilograms/105.8 pounds division and was seeded first in the draw with an opening-round bye. That division, however, was not among those selected for women's boxing at the Rio Olympics.