REMEMBERING ROBERTO CRUZ? SENSATIONAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 22 Mar 2014
We vividly recall that when Roberto Cruz won the vacant WBC light welterweight title with a spectacular 1st round knockout of Mexico?s ?Battling Torres? at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles which the WBC refers to as Gilmore Field, the fight was telecast on a delayed basis over IBC 13 which was then owned by the late Andres ?Andy? Soriano.
If my memory serves me well we did the coverage along with Bobby Ng with whom we did a weekly boxing show that telecast some of the great fights of the late Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde.
Cruz dropped Torres with a stunning left hook twice in the opening round and the Mexican was stopped at 2 minutes and 7 seconds of the round.
The battle between Cruz and Torres was part of a triple header in which Emile Griffith clashed with Luis Manuel Rodriguez in a welterweight title fight and Sugar Ramos battled Davey Moore in a featherweight championship bout.
It was a night that eventually ended in tragedy when Moore was rushed to hospital and passed away four days later due to a whiplash sustained when he hit the bottom rope after being knocked out in the 10th round.
Rodriguez won a 15 round unanimous decision over Griffith who, in the process, lost his WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine welterweight titles.
Cruz returned to a hero?s welcome but personal problems ruined his career and he lost in his very first title defense at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium where some 25,000 fight fans watched in anguish as Cruz, the handsome fighter from Baguio City was battered by former world champion Eddie Perkins who dropped Cruz in the opening round and had him groggy in rounds three and six before coasting to a fifteen round unanimous decision.
We covered that fight with the late ?Smokin Joe? Cantada for dzHP Radio.
Photo: Roberto Cruz (2nd from left).
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Marcial-Colmenares Middleweight Bout Steals Show at Thrilla in Manila 50th Year (Part 2 of 2)
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 05 Nov 2025Brown vs. Seldin for the WBA Super Lightweight Interim World Title
Wed, 05 Nov 2025FRANCIS LAFRENIÈRE MAKES COMEBACK NOV 29
Wed, 05 Nov 2025OLYMPIC MEDALIST YUBERJEN MARTINEZ INKS WITH ALL STAR BOXING
Wed, 05 Nov 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 November 2025: Mayer Outpoints Spencer to Unify 154 Belts; Buatsi's Controversial Win Over Parker; Pero Outpoints Thompson; Thrilla in Manila at 50 Results
By Eric Armit, Tue, 04 Nov 2025Marcial-Colmenares Middleweight Bout Steals Show at Thrilla in Manila 50th Year (Part 1)
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 04 Nov 2025MATCHROOM BOXING ANNOUNCES HISTORIC ‘LIVE FROM GHANA’ EVENT FOR SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20 AS CRAIG RICHARDS AND DAN AZEEZ COLLIDE IN ACCRA – LIVE WORLDWIDE ON DAZN
Tue, 04 Nov 2025Bryce Mills Defeats James Bernadin By Unanimous Decision
Mon, 03 Nov 2025NBA Daily: Wembanyama Struggles as Suns Give Spurs First Loss 130-118
By Reylan Loberternos, Mon, 03 Nov 2025Oklahoma City Thunder the only undefeated NBA Team
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Mon, 03 Nov 2025RP Blu Boys Close Out Strong with Unbeaten Record in Japan Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 03 Nov 2025Pero Outlasts Thompson in Orlando, Secures Unanimous Decision Victory
Mon, 03 Nov 2025Jonas Magpantay Crowned Qatar World Cup 10-Ball Champion
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 03 Nov 2025Jonas Magpantay reaches Qatar World Cup 10-Ball Finals
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 02 Nov 2025Pistons defeated Mavericks in NBA Game 34 in Mexico
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sun, 02 Nov 2025