Editing Leo Cruz (section)

==Pro career==
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 [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] world Jr. Featherweight championship. Despite losing by a [[knockout]] in the 13th round against world champion [[Wilfredo Gómez]],<ref name="time">{{cite news|last=Perez|first=Santos|title=Palma vs. Cruz, one more time|work=The Miami News|date=1982-06-10|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8rgmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cQIGAAAAIBAJ&pg=3158,2702626|accessdate=2010-12-17}}</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 [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] world champion [[Sergio Victor Palma]], in [[Buenos Aires]]. Cruz was beaten by a decision in 15 by the [[Argentina|Argentine]] world champion,<ref name="time"/> but in a rematch on 12 June 1982 at [[Miami, Florida|Miami]], Cruz became world champion by defeating Palma by a decision, also in 15 rounds.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fans' Spirit Helps Cruz Earn Decision|work=Gainesville Sun|agency=Associated Press|date=1982-06-14|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hXMfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sukDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4220,5221967|accessdate=2010-12-17}}</ref>

Cruz in his first defense knocked out Benito Badilla of [[Chile]] in eight rounds, at [[Roberto Clemente Coliseum]] in [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Leo Cruz makes first title defense|work=St. Joseph News-Press|agency=Associated Press|date=1982-11-13|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ns1bAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pFINAAAAIBAJ&pg=2493,1862982|accessdate=2010-12-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Mancini blasts rival, who is critical|work=Star-News|date=1982-11-14|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8AEzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dBMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6506,3283516|accessdate=2010-12-17}}</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 Korea]]n challenger Soon-Hyun Chung,<ref name="defends">{{cite news|title=Cruz defends title|work=Reading Eagle|agency=United Press International|date=1983-03-16|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=clMiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OacFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6025,5314096|accessdate=2010-12-17}}</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 [[Nicaragua]]n challenger Cleo Garcia at [[Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic|Santo Domingo]]. Cruz retained the title by a decision.

With a defense against Puerto Rican ''[[Victor Callejas|Victor Luvi Callejas]]'' looming ahead,<ref>{{cite news|title=Sports Shorts|work=The Lewiston Daily Sun|agency=Associated Press|date=1984-02-22|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jJMgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=m2cFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5668,3632306|accessdate=2010-12-17}}</ref> Cruz went to [[Milan, Italy|Milan]] in February 1984, and, while defending his crown against [[Italy|Italian]] [[Loris Stecca]], was stopped in round 12, therefore losing the WBA world junior featherweight title.<ref>{{cite news|title=Stecca overcomes Cruz|work=Reading Eagle|agency=Associated Press|date=1984-02-23|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rFciAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lacFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2724,1401530|accessdate=2010-12-17}}</ref>