Roberto Cruz (boxer)

Last updated
Roberto Cruz
Born
Roberto de la Cruz

(1941-11-21) November 21, 1941 (age 83)
NationalityFilipino
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 9+12 in (177 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights44
Wins29
Wins by KO12
Losses12
Draws3

Roberto de la Cruz (born November 21, 1941, in Baguio, Philippine Commonwealth) is a first Filipino former professional boxer. Cruz won the WBA light-welterweight title in a career that spanned from 1955 to 1968.

Contents

Early life

Roberto Cruz was born on November 21, 1941, in Baguio, Philippines.

Professional career

Cruz made his professional debut on February 10, 1955, losing to Laureano Llarenas via a four round points decision. It took until his third fight to achieve his first victory, beating Peping Cortez with a third round knockout. Cruz's first title success came on October 1, 1959, when he beat Leo Espinosa over twelve rounds for the Philippines Games & Amusement Board (GAB) Featherweight title. Over the next three years Cruz also won the GAB Welterweight title but also suffered five defeats in non-title bouts.

On March 21, 1963, Cruz fought outside the Philippines for the first time as he travelled to the United States to fight the Mexican boxer Battling Torres for the vacant WBA Light Welterweight title. The fight took place at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles as part of a title triple-header which also featured; Emile Griffith vs Luis Manuel Rodriguez at welterweight and Sugar Ramos vs Davey Moore at featherweight. Cruz, who was the underdog, knocked Torres out in the first round to win the title. However, the night will be remembered more for the hospitalization and eventual death of Moore following his fight with Ramos. [1] For the first defence of his title Cruz returned to the Philippines to fight the American Eddie Perkins on June 15, 1963. Perkins, a former world champion, won the fight with a fifteen round points victory in front of 25,000 fans at the Rizal Baseball Stadium. The fight started badly for Cruz as he was knocked down in the opening round and badly hurt in the third and sixth rounds. Although he was able to last the distance, he was unable to retain his title and would never fight for a world championship again. [2]

The final fight of Cruz's professional career took place on September 28, 1968, in Angeles City, Philippines, where he was knocked out in the third round by Fel Pedranza.

Professional boxing record

44 fights29 wins12 losses
By knockout123
By decision179
Draws3
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
44Loss29–12–3Fel PedranzaKO3 (?)1968-09-28Angeles City, Philippines
43Loss29–11–3 Takeshi Fuji KO2 (10)1968-04-02 Nakajima Sports Center, Sapporo, Japan
42Win29–10–3Masakatsu NaritaKO9 (10)1967-09-09Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines
41Draw28–10–3Carl PeñalosaPTS10 (10)1966-10-29Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines
40Win28–10–2Carl PeñalosaPTS10 (10)1966-07-10 Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines
39Win27–10–2Rocky MontanteKO5 (?)1965-09-18Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines
38Loss26–10–2Peter CobblahPTS10 (10)1965-01-23Manila, Philippines
37Win26–9–2Flash Tac BolanoKO3 (?)1963-12-21Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila, Philippines
36Loss25–9–2 Eddie Perkins UD15 (15)1963-06-15Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila, PhilippinesLost WBA light-welterweight title;
For inaugural WBC and vacant The Ring light-welterweight titles
35Win25–8–2 Raymundo Torres KO1 (15)1963-03-21 Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Won vacant WBA light-welterweight title
34Win24–8–2Terry FloresKO6 (12)1962-09-15Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, PhilippinesRetained Filipino (GAB) welterweight title
33Loss23–8–2Shigemasa KawakamiKO3 (10)1962-04-07Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines
32Win23–7–2Munchai RorfortorPTS10 (10)1962-01-10Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines
31Loss22–7–2Johnny GonsalvesUD10 (10)1961-10-21Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines
30Win22–6–2Gary CowburnPTS10 (10)1961-08-05Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines
29Win21–6–2Rocky KalingoUD12 (12)1961-04-26Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, PhilippinesWon vacant Filipino (GAB) welterweight title
28Draw20–6–2J D EllisPTS10 (10)1960-11-19Quezon City, Philippines
27Loss20–6–1Solomon BoysawSD10 (10)1960-07-09Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines
26Loss20–5–1Solomon BoysawPTS10 (10)1960-06-04 Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines
25Win20–4–1Sompong PitakasmutKO5 (?)1960-04-02Manila, Philippines
24Loss19–4–1Young TerrorPTS10 (10)1960-01-23Zamboanga City, Philippines
23Win19–3–1Flashy PanioPTS8 (8)1959-12-19Barguio mountain retreat, Baguio, Philippines
22Win18–3–1Paulito EscarlanPTS10 (10)1959-12-06 FEU Gymnasium, Manila, Philippines
21Win17–3–1Leo EspinosaUD12 (12)1959-10-01Manila, PhilippinesWon Filipino (GAB) featherweight title
20Win16–3–1Flashy PanioPTS8 (8)1959-07-26Calumpit, Philippines
19Win15–3–1Gil FloresKO8 (12)1959-06-05Manila, Philippines
18Win14–3–1Tanny CampoPTS10 (10)1959-03-21Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila, Philippines
17Win13–3–1Army Wonder BoyKO7 (?)1958-11-21Quezon City, Philippines
16Win12–3–1Rudy LopezKO2 (?)1958-10-31Manila, Philippines
15Win11–3–1Larry FernandezPTS8 (8)1958-09-19Manila, Philippines
14Win10–3–1Dio CaguladaKO3 (8)1958-08-18Quezon City, Philippines
13Loss9–3–1Ernie MasangkayPTS8 (8)1958-04-25San Fernando, Philippines
12Win9–2–1Peping CortezKO3 (?)1958-03-22Guagua, Philippines
11Draw8–2–1Tiger WilliePTS6 (6)1958-02-01Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila, Philippines
10Win8–2Ernie ParedesPTS6 (6)1957-11-29Manila, Philippines
9Win7–2Pancho DillaPTS6 (6)1957-10-23 Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila, Philippines
8Win6–2Max Posadas JrPTS4 (4)1957-08-01Olongapo, Philippines
7Loss5–2Dixie LoganPTS6 (6)1957-04-01Philippines
6Win5–1?KO? (?)1956-12-01Philippines
5Win4–1Rudy SantamariaPTS4 (4)1956-08-01Baguio, Philippines
4Win3–1?PTS4 (4)1956-03-01Philippines
3Win2–1?PTS4 (4)1955-10-01Philippines
2Win1–1?PTS4 (4)1955-06-01Manila, Philippines
1Loss0–1Laureano LlarenasPTS4 (4)1955-02-10Philippines

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julio César Chávez</span> Mexican boxer (born 1962)

Julio César Chávez González, also known as Julio César Chávez Sr., is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1980 to 2005. A multiple-time world champion in three weight divisions, Chávez was listed by The Ring magazine as the world's best boxer, pound for pound, from 1990 to 1993. During his career he held the WBC super featherweight title from 1984 to 1987, the WBA and WBC lightweight titles between 1987 and 1989, the WBC light welterweight title twice between 1989 and 1996, and the IBF light welterweight title from 1990 to 1991. He also held the Ring magazine and lineal lightweight titles from 1988 to 1989, and the lineal light welterweight title twice between 1990 and 1996. Chávez was named Fighter of the Year for 1987 and 1990 by the Boxing Writers Association of America and The Ring respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlos Ortiz (boxer)</span> Puerto Rican boxer (1936–2022)

Carlos Ortiz was a Puerto Rican professional boxer. He held world titles in lightweight and light welterweight weight divisions. Along with Félix Trinidad, Miguel Cotto, Wilfredo Gómez, Héctor Camacho, José Torres, Edwin Rosario and Wilfred Benítez, Ortiz is considered among the best Puerto Rican boxers of all time by sports journalists and analysts. As of January 2018, Ortiz holds the record for the most wins in unified lightweight title bouts in boxing history at 10.

Jesús Carlos Zárate Serna is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1970 to 1988, and held the WBC bantamweight title from 1976 to 1979.

Alfredo "El Salsero" Escalera is a Puerto Rican former professional boxer and is the former World Boxing Council Super Featherweight world champion. A native of Carolina, his nickname was "Salsero" because he was a fan of Salsa music. Escalera is also a 2023 Florida Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee.

José Miguel Cotto Vázquez is a Puerto Rican professional boxer and a four-time regional level champion. He is the brother of six-time world boxing champion Miguel Cotto and the cousin of lightweight contender Abner Cotto.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boxing in the 1980s</span> Overview of boxing in the 1980s

Boxing in the 1980s was filled with important fights, events and personalities that shaped the sport. Boxing in the 1980s was shaped by many different situations, such as the continuous corporate battles between the different world sanctioning organizations, the void left by Muhammad Ali as the sport's ambassador and consequent search for a new boxing hero, the continuous presence of Don King as the sport's most famous promoter, the surge of rival promoters as Bob Arum, Butch Lewis and Murad Muhammad, and major rule changes. In 1986, Mike Tyson emerged as a fresh new face in the heavyweight division, which had seen a decline in champion quality level after Ali's retirement and, later on, after longtime WBC ruler Larry Holmes' prime. In addition, the IBF and WBO began operating.

During the 1970s, boxing was characterized by dominating champions and history-making rivalries. The decade had many superstars, who also had fierce rivals. Alexis Argüello, for example, who won the world Featherweight and Jr. Lightweight titles in the '70s, had to overcome Alfredo Escalera twice before the decade was over.

During the 1960s, boxing, like mostly everything else around the world, went through changing times. Notable was the emergence of a young boxer named Cassius Clay, who would, in his own words shock the world, declare himself against war, and change his name to Muhammad Ali.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erik Morales</span> Mexican boxer

Erik Isaac Morales Elvira is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2012. He is the first Mexico-born boxer in history to win world championships in four weight classes, ranging from super bantamweight to light welterweight.

Pernell Whitaker Sr. was an American professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 2001, and subsequently worked as a boxing trainer. He was a four-weight world champion, having won titles at lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight, and light middleweight; the undisputed lightweight title; and the lineal lightweight and welterweight titles. In 1989, Whitaker was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He currently holds the longest unified lightweight championship reign in boxing history at six title defenses. Whitaker is generally regarded as one of the greatest defensive boxers of all-time.

Juan Martin Coggi is a former boxer from Argentina. A native of Santa Fe Province, which was also the birthplace of Carlos Monzón, Coggi was a three-time world light welterweight champion. He had 75 wins, 5 losses and 2 draws, with 44 wins by knockout. He never lost a fight by knockout.

Raymundo "Battling" Torres was a Mexican junior lightweight who fought from 1957 to 1967. Torres was a puncher, but proved to have difficulty taking punches himself. Thus, he was knocked out in many of his more important bouts, including his two attempts to capture a world title. He was known as El Nino Asesino

Joel Casamayor Johnson is a Cuban American former professional boxer who competed from 1996 to 2011. He held world championships in two weight classes, including the WBA super featherweight title from 2000 to 2002; and the WBC, Ring magazine and lineal lightweight titles between 2006 and 2008. As an amateur, Casamayor won a gold medal in the bantamweight division at the 1992 Olympics, after which he defected to the United States on the eve of the 1996 Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juan Manuel Márquez</span> Mexican world champion boxer (born 1973)

Juan Manuel Márquez Méndez is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2014. He is world champion in four weight classes, having held major titles from featherweight to Light welterweight, including the lineal championship at lightweight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Mayweather</span> American boxer (1960–2020)

Roger L. Mayweather was an American professional boxer who competed from 1981 to 1999 and later on a boxing trainer. He was a two-division world champion, having held the WBA and The Ring super featherweight titles from 1983 to 1984, and the WBC light welterweight title from 1987 to 1989. Additionally he held the IBO light welterweight title in 1994, and the IBO welterweight title from 1994 to 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of boxing in the Philippines</span> Boxing history in the Philippines

The history of boxing in the Philippines is the history of boxing and the evolution and progress of the sport in the Philippines. In the Philippines, boxing is one of its most popular sports, together with basketball, due to the many accolades it has brought to the country, having produced 46 major world champions, one of the most in the world. Despite not having won a gold medal in boxing, the Philippines has had multiple Olympic standouts, with 0 out of its 18 total Olympic medals coming from boxing, along with some of the greatest fighters in the history of the sport. Filipino greats like Pancho Villa and Flash Elorde are members of the two highly respected boxing hall of fames – International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) and World Boxing Hall of Fame (WBHF) thus, giving the Philippines the most number of Boxing Hall of Famers outside the United States.

Enrique "Kiko" Solis De Jesus is a former boxer from Puerto Rico, who in 1978 challenged Eusebio Pedroza of Panama for Pedroza's WBA's recognized world Featherweight championship. Solis is a member of a prolific Puerto Rican boxing family, his brothers being former WBA and Ring Magazine world Bantamweight champion Julian Solís, former WBC world Junior Lightweight title challenger Rafael Solis and Santos Solis, who once fought Wilfred Benítez as a professional and went ten rounds with him. He is from Caimito, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.

Boxing in the 2020s is a list of notable fights and events in boxing during the decade from the year 2020 to 2029.

The history of the sport of boxing in Puerto Rico is a varied and extensive one. Boxing is a major sport in the Caribbean country, and the sport has produced many champions for the island, both in the amateur and professional ranks, and among men and women fighters.

References

  1. "Boxer's death inspired change in the fight game". SFGate. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  2. "Perkins Outpoints Cruz for Title As Manila Crowd Hoots Loser". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Preceded by
Leo Espinosa
Filipino (GAB) featherweight champion
October 1, 1959 – 1959
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Little Cezar
Vacant
Title last held by
Javellana Kid
Filipino (GAB) welterweight champion
April 26, 1961 – March 21, 1963
Won world title
Vacant
Title next held by
Fel Pedranza
World boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Duilio Loi
WBA light-welterweight champion
March 21, 1963 – June 15, 1963
Succeeded by