| |
|
DE LA CRUZ SERVES AS TARGET PRACTICE FOR KLASSEN
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 14 Apr 2008
Former IBF super featherweight champion Michael Klassen, who was once considered as a possible opponent for Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, has scored a seventh round knockout over unknown Filipino boxer Joel de la Cruz.
Super Sport reported that de la Cruz ?had nothing to offer. He served as target practice and did not even take a telling blow when he stumbled back, landed on his behind and stayed down to be counted out at 2 minutes 9 seconds of the seventh round.?
The fight was on the undercard of the IBF junior lightweight title fight in which Cassius Baloyi regained the title in what was described as a ?classic scrap? at the North-West University Sports Complex in Mafikeng, South Africa.
Two of the judges had Baloyi, who won his sixth world championship, ahead on their scorecards while the third judge scored it a draw. Alex Levin of the US had Baloyi the winner 117-111, Mickey Vann of Britain also had it for Baloyi 116-112 but Germany?s Ingo Barrabas scored it a 114-114 draw.
The report on the de la Cruz fight said Klassen seemed to be intent on getting a few rounds under his belt.? It said the former world champion never put his weight behind his punches and merely stuck to a jab-jab-hook pattern against his Filipino opponent who had no right to be in the ring with Klassen.
Boxrec.com listed de la Cruz as a super bantamweight with a 1-3 record going into the fight in South Africa with two of his three defeats coming by way of stoppages. He lost by a fourth round TKO to Jake Verano and before that by a second round KO to Danny Boy Bantilao.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Weigh-In Results: Oscar Valdez vs. Ricky Medina
, Sat, 06 Sep 2025WEIGHTS FROM LOS MOCHIS: Eduardo Nuñez - 130 Lbs., Christopher Diaz - 129.6 Lbs.
, Sat, 06 Sep 2025“THE HOMECOMING” OFFICIAL WEIGHTS
, Sat, 06 Sep 2025‘SUGAR’ NUNEZ VS. ‘PITUFO’ DIAZ – PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
, Sat, 06 Sep 2025SUNDERLAND: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER
, Sat, 06 Sep 2025USA Boxing Nabs Perfect Outing on Day One of 2025 World Boxing Championships
, Sat, 06 Sep 2025Kelvin Watts Charged Up for 2025 World Boxing Championships
, Sat, 06 Sep 2025Legendary German Trainer Michael Timm Dies
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 06 Sep 20252X Olympic Champion, 4X Undisputed & 17X World Champion Claressa Shields Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo,
, Sat, 06 Sep 2025Boxers swing into action
By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 05 Sep 2025UBO Youth World Title Showdown: Aliya Soomro Fights Monika Singh in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 05 Sep 2025Battle of the Hawk Season 1 Finals on September 9; offers P600,000 to the winning team while P300,000 to the losing finalist team
By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 05 Sep 2025Press Conference Notes: Oscar Valdez Motivated for Saturday's Homecoming Against Ricky Medina
, Fri, 05 Sep 2025SUNDERLAND PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES AS McCORMACK EYES BIG WIN
, Fri, 05 Sep 2025THE ROAD TO REYES CUP AND MOSCONI CUP | 2025 PLAYERS QUALIFICATION
, Fri, 05 Sep 2025Statement from World Boxing following reports in the French media about French female boxers at the World Boxing Championships
, Fri, 05 Sep 2025GenSan Is Our Version of Los Mochis - The City of Boxing Champions
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 05 Sep 2025Iglesias vs. Shishkin: Unsigned Hype
By Chris Carlson, , Fri, 05 Sep 2025EDDIE HEARN PROVIDES AJ UPDATE AS PAT McCORMACK NAMES THE BIG FIGHT HE WANTS NEXT IN NEW MATCHROOM BOXING PODCAST
, Fri, 05 Sep 2025Team USA’s Path to Gold Set at 2025 World Boxing Championships in Liverpool
, Fri, 05 Sep 2025DACS signs up with Amesco Drug
By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 05 Sep 2025India’s Monika Singh Battles Aliya Soomro of Pakistan for UBO Youth World 108 in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 04 Sep 2025TEENAGE KICKS: WONDERKIDS LEO ATANG, ADAM MACA AND TIAH-MAI AYTON ARE READY TO LIGHT UP SUNDERLAND THIS SATURDAY
, Thu, 04 Sep 2025150 to join Rotary Heritage Aquathlon
By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 04 Sep 2025Miguel Berchelt to Return in Reynosa, Tamaulipas; WBC Praises City’s Commitment
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 04 Sep 2025 |
|
|
|
|
|
