PITALUA BEATS STA CRUZ; TO FIGHT VALERO FOR WBC LIGHTWEIGHT INTERIM CHAMPIONSHIP
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 21 Sep 2008
Colombia?s Antonio Pitalua, who scored a stunning knockout victory over Jose Armando Santa Cruz, will fight Venezuela?s undefeated KO artist Edwin Valero for the WBC lightweight interim championship according to WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman.
Pitalua dropped Santa Cruz in round four and then put him down for good at 2:50 of round six. Santa Cruz is the same fighter who was knocked out by David Diaz in the tenth round after being well ahead on points.on August 12, 2006. Diaz then lost by a 9th round knockout to Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao last June 28.
Pacquiao, the reigning 135 pound champion faces Oscar De La Hoya in a ?Dream Match? at the MGM Grand on December 6 in a 147 pound clash.
In an overseas telephone conversation with www.insidesports.ph, Manila Standard and Viva Sports, Sulaiman said they were not sure what Pacquiao?s plans are after the De La Hoya fight but said Pacquiao would be given three months to defend his title after an interim champion is crowned.
Golden Boy Promotions vice president and international matchmaker Eric Gomez called from the northern Mexican city of Monterrey, to give us the results of what he described as ?a great fight? which was featured on a Golden Boy promotion.
The WBC said the Pitalua-Santa Cruz fight ?will have special attention from the world, due to the quality of the contenders and the afterwards announced battle for the interim crown of the weight division.?
The WBC said prior to the fight that it was ? waiting with great enthusiasm? for the elimination bout between Pitalua and Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz was clearly denied from his victory against Cuban Joel Casamayor and Pitalua has been a dangerous contender for the title from a long time ago.
Both The elimination bout and the fight between the winner against Edwin Valero, have been ordered by The World boxing Council while there is a long wait for the fight of the weight Division?s Champion Manny Pacquiao against Oscar de la Hoya to be held next December 6th.
Pitalua (R) and Sta. Cruz during yesterday's weighin. Photo by Hogan Photos / Golden Boy.
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