Roberto de la Cruz (born November 21, 1941, in Baguio, Philippines) is a retired Filipino boxer who competed from 1955 to 1968. Fighting as an orthodox stylist across the featherweight, welterweight, and light welterweight divisions, he captured the Philippines GAB featherweight title in 1959 and the GAB welterweight crown in 1961. His greatest triumph came on March 21, 1963, when he stunned Battling Torres with a first-round knockout at Dodger Stadium to win the WBA light welterweight championship, becoming one of the Philippines’ world champions. Cruz lost the belt in his first defense to Eddie Perkins and never fought for a world title again, retiring with a professional record of 44 fights, 29 wins (12 KOs), 12 losses, and 3 draws. He remains remembered as a pioneering Filipino champion of the 1960s. In 2026, Roberto Cruz is 84 years old.
Welterweight
Roberto Cruz
Baguio, Philippines
29Wins
12Losses
3Draws
12KOs
Career: 1955 – 1968
Biography
World Titles
- WBA WBA World Super Lightweight Won Mar 21, 1963 · Lost Jun 15, 1963 (UD Loss) · UD Eddie Perkins
Regional & Other Belts
- Philippines Philippines GAB Welterweight Won Apr 26, 1961 · Lost Sep 15, 1963
- Philippines Philippines GAB Featherweight Won Oct 1, 1959 · Lost Sep 30, 1960
Fight Record
| Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Round | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 28, 1968 | Fel Pedranza | D | KO | 3 | Angeles City, Pampanga |
| Apr 2, 1968 | Takeshi Fuji | D | KO | 2/10 | Nakajima Sports Center, Sapporo |
| Sep 9, 1967 | Masakatsu Narita | D | KO | 9/10 | Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City |
| Oct 29, 1966 | Carl Penalosa | D | UD | 10 | Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City |
| Jul 10, 1966 | Carl Penalosa | D | UD | 10 | Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City |
| Sep 18, 1965 | Rocky Montante | D | KO | 5 | Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City |
| Jan 23, 1965 | Peter Cobblah | D | UD | 10 | Somewhere in, Manila |
| Dec 21, 1963 | Flash Tac Bolano | D | KO | 3 | Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Manila |
| Jun 15, 1963 | Eddie Perkins | D | UD | — | Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Manila |
| Mar 21, 1963 | Raymundo Torres | D | KO | 1 | Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles |
| Sep 15, 1962 | Terry Flores | D | KO | 6/12 | Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City |
| Apr 7, 1962 | Shigemasa Kawakami | D | KO | 3/10 | Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City |
| Jan 10, 1962 | Munchai Rorfortor | D | UD | 10 | Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City |
| Oct 21, 1961 | Johnny Gonsalves | D | UD | 10 | Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City |
| Aug 5, 1961 | Gary Cowburn | D | UD | 10 | Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City |
| Apr 26, 1961 | Rocky Kalingo | D | UD | 12 | Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City |
| Nov 19, 1960 | J D Ellis | D | UD | 10 | Somewhere in, Quezon City |
| Jul 9, 1960 | Solomon Boysaw | D | SD | 10 | Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City |
| Jun 4, 1960 | Solomon Boysaw | D | UD | 10 | Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City |
| Apr 2, 1960 | Sompong Pitakasmut | D | KO | 5 | Somewhere in, Manila |
| Jan 23, 1960 | Young Terror | D | UD | 10 | Somewhere in, Zamboanga City |
| Dec 19, 1959 | Flashy Panio | D | UD | 8 | Baguio Mountain Retreat, Baguio City |
| Dec 6, 1959 | Paulito Escarlan | D | UD | 10 | Far Eastern University Gymnasium, Manila |
| Oct 1, 1959 | Leo Espinosa | D | UD | 12 | Somewhere in, Manila |
| Jul 26, 1959 | Flashy Panio | D | UD | 8 | Calumpit, Bulacan |
| Jun 5, 1959 | Gil Flores | D | KO | 8/12 | Somewhere in, Manila |
| Mar 21, 1959 | Tanny Campo | D | UD | 10 | Rizal Open Arena, Manila |
| Nov 21, 1958 | Army Wonder Boy | D | KO | 7 | Somewhere in, Quezon City |
| Oct 31, 1958 | Rudy Lopez | D | KO | 2 | Somewhere in, Manila |
| Sep 19, 1958 | Larry Fernandez | D | UD | 8 | Somewhere in, Manila |
| Aug 18, 1958 | Dio Cagulada | D | KO | 3/8 | Somewhere in, Quezon City |
| Apr 25, 1958 | Ernie Masangkay | D | UD | 8 | San Fernando Town Plaza, San Fernando City |
| Mar 22, 1958 | Peping Cortez | D | KO | 3 | Guagua, Pampanga |
| Feb 1, 1958 | Tiger Willie | D | UD | 6 | Rizal Open Arena, Manila |
| Nov 29, 1957 | Ernie Paredes | D | UD | 6 | Somewhere in, Manila |
| Oct 23, 1957 | Pancho Dilla | D | UD | 6 | Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Manila |
| Aug 1, 1957 | Max Posadas Jr | D | UD | 4 | Olongapo City, Pampanga |
| Apr 1, 1957 | Dixie Logan | D | UD | 6 | Somewhere in |
| Dec 1, 1956 | unknown | D | KO | — | Somewhere in |
| Aug 1, 1956 | Rudy Santamaria | D | UD | 4 | Somewhere in, Baguio City |
| Mar 1, 1956 | unknown | D | UD | 4 | Somewhere in |
| Oct 1, 1955 | unknown | D | UD | 4 | Somewhere in |
| Jun 1, 1955 | unknown | D | UD | 4 | Somewhere in, Manila |
| Feb 10, 1955 | Laureano Llarenas | D | UD | 4 | Somewhere in |
Latest News on Roberto Cruz
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First round knockouts
