Leo Cruz
Leonardo Cruz (born
January 17,
1953 in
Santiago de los Caballeros,
Dominican Republic), better known in the
world of
boxing as
Leo Cruz, was a world Jr. Featherweight champion from the
Dominican Republic.
Leo was the brother of
Carlos Cruz, a man whom many recognize as one of the greatest fighters to come out of the Dominican Republic. His brother Carlos had conquered the world Lightweight title by beating
Carlos Ortiz in
1969, and was on his way to a rematch with Ortiz at
San Juan, when his
Dominicana De Aviacion DC-9 jet crashed shortly after take-off, killing everyone on board. With that, Leo had to learn how to deal with life's hardships at a very young age (see:
Dominicana DC-9 air disaster).
Leo moved to
Puerto Rico early in the
1970s, and began identifying himself as half
Puerto Rican almost immediately. He began his successful professional boxing career there, 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
WBC world Jr. Featherweight championship. Despite losing by a
knockout in the 13th round against world champion
Wilfredo Gomez, 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
WBA world champion
Sergio Palma, in
Buenos Aires. Cruz was beaten by a decision in 15 by the
Argentine world champion, but in a rematch on February of
1982 at
Miami, Cruz became world champion by defeating Palma by a decision, also in 15 rounds.
Cruz in his first defense knocked out
Benito Badillo of
Chile in eight rounds, at
Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan. When Gomez left his WBC title vacant soon after, Cruz became recognized by most fans as the universal world champion. Then, he defeated
South Korean challenger
Soon-Hyun Chung, by decision in 15; after dropping him in round eight; also in San Juan. In his first defense at his home country, Cruz put his title on the line on August of
1983 against
Nicaraguan challenger
Cleo Garcia at
Santo Domingo. Cruz retained the title by a decision.
With a lucrative defense against Puerto Rican
Victor Luvi Callejas looming ahead, Cruz went to
Rome in February of
1984, and, while defending his crown against
Italian Loris Stecca, he inexplicably quit in round 12, therefore losing the world Featherweight title.
Cruz attempted a comeback in
1985, winning one fight, but retiring for good after that.
*
Eleoncio Mercedes
