Leo Cruz
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Leonardo Cruz (born January 17, 1953, in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic), better known in the world of boxing as Leo Cruz, was a world Jr. Featherweight champion from the Dominican Republic. He is the younger brother of former lightweight world champion of boxing, Carlos Cruz.
Personal
[edit]Leo was the brother of Carlos Cruz. Carlos had conquered the world Lightweight title by beating Carlos Ortiz in 1968, but lost his life in a plane crash on February 15, 1970 that killed all 102 passengers and crew on board.<ref name="END">Template:Cite web</ref>
Early life
[edit]Leo moved to Puerto Rico early in the 1970s, and began identifying himself as half Puerto Rican almost immediately.
Pro career
[edit]He began his successful professional boxing career in Puerto Rico, with a string of wins. Despite having beaten future two time world champion Lupe Pintor, however, Cruz was still a virtual unknown when given a chance to win the WBC world Jr. Featherweight championship. Despite losing by a knockout in the 13th round against world champion Wilfredo Gómez,<ref name="time">Template:Cite news</ref> his stock around the boxing world rose after that fight. Cruz kept on fighting, and winning, until he was given a second world title try, this time by the WBA world champion Sergio Victor Palma, in Buenos Aires. Cruz was beaten by a decision in 15 by the Argentine world champion,<ref name="time"/> but in a rematch on 12 June 1982 at Miami, Cruz became world champion by defeating Palma by a decision, also in 15 rounds.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Cruz in his first defense knocked out Benito Badilla of Chile in eight rounds, at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> When Gómez left his WBC title vacant soon after, Cruz became recognized by most fans as the universal world champion. Then, he defeated South Korean challenger Soon-Hyun Chung,<ref name="defends">Template:Cite news</ref> by decision in 15; after dropping him in round eight; also in San Juan.<ref name="defends"/> In his first defense at his home country, Cruz put his title on the line in August 1983 against Nicaraguan challenger Cleo Garcia at Santo Domingo. Cruz retained the title by a decision.
With a defense against Puerto Rican Victor Luvi Callejas looming ahead,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Cruz went to Milan in February 1984, and, while defending his crown against Italian Loris Stecca, was stopped in round 12, therefore losing the WBA world junior featherweight title.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Comeback
[edit]Cruz attempted a comeback in 1985, winning one fight, but retiring for good after losing a second comeback fight in 1989.
References
[edit]External links
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