Briseida Acosta saw off Olympic gold medallist María Espinoza 2-1 following three bouts between the pair in Cancun.

With the fighters seventh and eighth in the world rankings, respectively, the FMTKD struggled to choose between them and organised the competition to decide.

Espinoza won heavyweight gold at Beijing 2008, as well as silver at Rio 2016 and bronze at London 2012.

The 32-year-old former world champion won the first bout but Acosta then defeated her in the next two to earn her place at the qualifier.

Twenty-six-year-old Acosta, who won Pan American Games gold at Lima 2019 last year, won the bronze medal at last year's World Championships in Manchester.

Costa Rica is hosting the qualifier in San Jose on March 11 and 12.

Mexico also selected three other athletes automatically after their results during the last Olympic cycle.

Daniela Souza will compete in the women's under-49kg, Brandon Plaza will see action in the men's under-58kg and Carlos Sansores will do battle in the men's over-80kg.

Souza won gold at Lima 2019 while Plaza is a World Championship and Pan American Games silver medallist.

Sansores won silver at the World Championships and bronze in Lima.