| |
|
REMEMBERING ROBERTO CRUZ? SENSATIONAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 22 Mar 2014
We vividly recall that when Roberto Cruz won the vacant WBC light welterweight title with a spectacular 1st round knockout of Mexico?s ?Battling Torres? at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles which the WBC refers to as Gilmore Field, the fight was telecast on a delayed basis over IBC 13 which was then owned by the late Andres ?Andy? Soriano.
If my memory serves me well we did the coverage along with Bobby Ng with whom we did a weekly boxing show that telecast some of the great fights of the late Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde.
Cruz dropped Torres with a stunning left hook twice in the opening round and the Mexican was stopped at 2 minutes and 7 seconds of the round.
The battle between Cruz and Torres was part of a triple header in which Emile Griffith clashed with Luis Manuel Rodriguez in a welterweight title fight and Sugar Ramos battled Davey Moore in a featherweight championship bout.
It was a night that eventually ended in tragedy when Moore was rushed to hospital and passed away four days later due to a whiplash sustained when he hit the bottom rope after being knocked out in the 10th round.
Rodriguez won a 15 round unanimous decision over Griffith who, in the process, lost his WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine welterweight titles.
Cruz returned to a hero?s welcome but personal problems ruined his career and he lost in his very first title defense at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium where some 25,000 fight fans watched in anguish as Cruz, the handsome fighter from Baguio City was battered by former world champion Eddie Perkins who dropped Cruz in the opening round and had him groggy in rounds three and six before coasting to a fifteen round unanimous decision.
We covered that fight with the late ?Smokin Joe? Cantada for dzHP Radio.
Photo: Roberto Cruz (2nd from left).
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Athletes secure guaranteed prize money on day three of IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Niš
, Wed, 12 Mar 2025Chances Are: Top Rank Signs Amateur Standout Emmanuel Chance
, Wed, 12 Mar 2025Johnny Wellem Andam Carzano tops Iligan chess tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 12 Mar 2025April 5: Unbeaten Standouts Albert Gonzalez and Steven Navarro Added to Richard Torrez Jr.-Guido Vianello Card at Palms Casino Resort LIVE on ESPN+
, Wed, 12 Mar 2025Hatice Akbas confident of second gold medal at IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships
, Wed, 12 Mar 2025Sanman Boxing Event Set as Fighters Successfully Make Weight in General Santos City
, Tue, 11 Mar 2025Filipina Boxing Champions Norj Guro and Wenie Cline Verano Seek Guidance from Promoter Brico Santig for Career Advancement
By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 11 Mar 2025The Past Week in Action 10 March 2025: Lauren Price Outpoints Natasha Jonas to Unify IBF/IBO/WBA/WBC Welter Titles
By Eric Armit, , Tue, 11 Mar 2025A Pilgrimage of Gratitude: Remembering Gabriel ‘Flash’ Elorde
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 11 Mar 2025Bye Bye Dallas Mavericks - From Finalists to Also Run (Again)?
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 11 Mar 2025Justin Viloria's Star Continues to Rise
By Dong Secuya, , Tue, 11 Mar 2025WBA Champion Eimantas Stanionis Settles in at Wild Card Gym in Preparation for Unification Showdown with Jaron “Boots” Ennis
, Tue, 11 Mar 2025Irish light heavyweight prospect Thomas Myers Shipping Up To Boston to fight Saturday
, Tue, 11 Mar 2025GM Joey Antonio rules rapid chess tilt
By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 11 Mar 2025Cebuana Lhuillier Slo-Pitch Softball Team Bags Another Championship Title in Pangaea Cup Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 11 Mar 2025Araw doubles netfest set March 14-17 at Flores
By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 11 Mar 2025Melvin Jerusalem Ready to Defend WBC Title Against Yudai Shigeoka in Anticipated Rematch
, Tue, 11 Mar 2025Euri Cedeno Takes on Ulices Rivera This Friday Night at Wind Creek Events Center in Bethlehem, PA and LIVE ON DAZN
, Tue, 11 Mar 2025Blue-chip super middleweight prospect Marco “El Tiburón” Romero to fight Closer to home this Friday in Denver
, Tue, 11 Mar 2025President Kremlev named Ekaterinburg potential host city for Beterbiev vs Bivol trilogy
, Tue, 11 Mar 2025Sampson Lewkowicz Congratulates Fast-rising Lightweight Luis ‘Koreano’ Torres for His Impressive Victory Over Former Champ Nicholas Walters on Probox TV
, Tue, 11 Mar 2025Cuban fighters prepare for debut at IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Niš
, Tue, 11 Mar 2025World medallists begin campaigns successfully on day one at IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Niš
, Mon, 10 Mar 2025We'll Get to See Lakers, Warriors More in Coming Post-Season Playoffs
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 10 Mar 2025Endar beats Trinidad by split decision to win PBF title
By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 10 Mar 2025 |
|
|
|
|
|
