Tyric Trapp scores first international win, defeats pro Abel Mina in Colombia
Tyric Trapp lived up to his “Too Sharp” nickname Monday, earning his first international victory with a unanimous decision over Ecuador’s Gustiniano Abel Mina at the 2026 Copa America tournament in Girardot, Colombia.
Trapp, a 26-year-old southpaw from Red Bank, New Jersey, was competing in his second international tournament in as many months as a member of USA Boxing’s national team. He impressed against the 33-year-old Mina, a vastly more experienced international boxer who also owns a 19-4-1 (9 KOs) professional record.
After a tentative opening round controlled largely through ring generalship, Trapp took command in the second, backing Mina up with straight left hands while mixing in body shots from both sides. Despite taking up boxing only four years ago, Trapp displayed polished technique throughout, catching Mina’s straight rights with his rear hand and framing him for clean left hands to the head and body.
By the third round, Trapp was fully in control. He even flashed some flair from his basketball days by miming a crossover dribble — drawing a warning from the referee — before snapping Mina’s head back with a sharp right uppercut.
The victory was Trapp’s second result of the tournament after receiving a walkover Monday against Colombia’s Juan Diego Ortiz.
The nine-day tournament is being contested in a round-robin format, with boxers facing every opponent in their division once. The boxer with the best overall record will claim the gold medal. The format allows all of the boxers to gain the maximum amount of experience while competing against boxers they may end up seeing at the Olympic qualifiers.
Meanwhile, 198-pound standout Malachi Georges of Teaneck moved to 1-1 in the tournament after stopping Colombian professional Sebastian Ovalle on Sunday before dropping a unanimous decision to Colombia’s Johan Caicedo on Monday.
Both fighters return to action Tuesday. Trapp faces Colombia’s Andres Orobio in bout 31, while Georges takes on Miguel Teo — an American from Framingham, Massachusetts representing Guatemala — in bout 37.