Andy Cruz
Andy Cruz in May 2023
Born (1995-08-12) August 12, 1995 (age 28)
Matanzas, Cuba
NationalityCuban
Statistics
Weight(s)Lightweight
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record[1]
Total fights2
Wins2
Wins by KO1
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing  Cuba
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 1 0 0
World Championships 3 0 0
Pan American Games 2 0 0
Total 6 0 0
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo Lightweight
World Amateur Championships
Gold medal – first place 2017 Hamburg Light welterweight
Gold medal – first place 2019 Yekaterinburg Light welterweight
Gold medal – first place 2021 Belgrade Light welterweight
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 2015 Toronto Bantamweight
Gold medal – first place 2019 Lima Light welterweight
Pan American Championship
Gold medal – first place 2017 Tegucigalpa [fr] Light welterweight
Cuban National Championships
Gold medal – first place 2016 Santiago de Cuba Light welterweight
Gold medal – first place 2017 Sancti Spiritus Light welterweight
Gold medal – first place 2018 Camagüey Light welterweight
Gold medal – first place 2019 Camagüey Light welterweight

Andy Cruz Gómez (born 12 August 1995) is a Cuban professional boxer. He has won two gold medals at the Pan American Games as well as three gold medals at the AIBA World Championships.[2] He is the current reigning Olympic lightweight gold medallist after competing in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.[3]

Professional career

Early career

Andy Cruz turned professional at the age of 27, signing a deal with Matchroom Boxing.[4][5] Cruz expressed that in his career as a professional, he will fight no easy opponents and aims to face people who will give him a challenge.[6][7] On July 15, 2023, Cruz made his professional boxing debut against former two-time world championship challenger Juan Carlos Burgos in a 10-round bout at the Masonic Temple in Detroit, Michigan.[8] Cruz won his first minor title in his debut fight by unanimous decision,[9][10] with the judges scoring the bout 100–90, 100–90, and 98–92.[11][12][13]

Cruz was announced to be defending his IBF International lightweight title against Hector Tanajara Jr. on December 9, 2023, in a 10-round bout as an undercard fight for Devin Haney vs. Regis Prograis.[14][15] Shortly after the bout was scheduled, Tanajara Jr. withdrew due to an injury.[16] Later, it was announced that former IBO world lightweight champion Jovanni Straffon would fight as a replacement if his visa was approved.[17] After Straffon acquired his visa, the fight was confirmed to continue at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California.[18][19] Cruz retained his IBF International lightweight title and won the vacant WBA Continental Latin-American lightweight title by knockout after the referee stopped the contest in round three after Straffon took too much damage in the previous rounds, giving Cruz his first stoppage victory as a professional.[20][21] According to CompuBox, Cruz outclassed Straffon by landing 88 out of his 146 total punches thrown (60.3%), compared to Straffon's 13 out of 76 punches thrown (17.1%).[22]

Professional boxing record

2 fights 2 wins 0 losses
By knockout 1 0
By decision 1 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
2 Win 2–0 Jovanni Straffon KO 3 (10), 0:53 Dec 9, 2023 Chase Center, San Francisco, California, U.S. Retained IBF International lightweight title;
Won vacant WBA Continental Latin-American lightweight title
1 Win 1–0 Juan Carlos Burgos UD 10 Jul 15, 2023 Masonic Temple, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Won vacant IBF International lightweight title

References

  1. ^ "Boxing record for Andy Cruz". BoxRec.
  2. ^ "Results". Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  3. ^ Christ, Scott (2021-08-08). "Olympics 2020 boxing results: Andy Cruz of Cuba takes gold, USA's Keyshawn Davis gets silver". Bad Left Hook. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Cuban sensation Andy Cruz signs promotional deal with Matchroom". Matchroom Boxing. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  5. ^ Hits, Random. "Andy Cruz, Olympic Gold Medal Winner, Inks Promotional With Hearn". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  6. ^ Donovan, Jake. "Andy Cruz: I Don't Believe In Easy Tasks In Boxing, We Chose An Opponent Who Will Challenge Us". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  7. ^ Sardar, Samrat. "Andy Cruz Delves Into Why "Easy Tasks" Are a Problem in Boxing". EssentiallySports. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  8. ^ Collins, Michael. "Boxing Tonight: Baumgardner Vs. Linardatou – Live Results - Boxing News". www.boxing247.com. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  9. ^ Campbell, Morgan. "Heralded Cuban Wins in an Unusual Introduction to Pro Boxing". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  10. ^ "BoxRec: IBF International lightweight title Results". boxrec.com.
  11. ^ Photos, Boxing. "Photos: Andy Cruz Goes Pro, Boxes Past Juan Carlos Burgos". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  12. ^ D'Writer, Vince. "Andy Cruz Makes An Impressive Pro Debut With Win Over Burgos". Boxing News 24. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  13. ^ "BoxRec: Andy Cruz vs. Juan Carlos Burgos". boxrec.com.
  14. ^ Karlov, Andrew. "Andy Cruz will perform at the Haney-Prograis event". ringside24.com. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  15. ^ TV, Ring. "Montana Love takes on Liam Paro at the top of the Haney-Prograis undercard". The Ring. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  16. ^ Donovan, Jake. "Prograis-Haney: Andy Cruz Seeks New Opponent, Hector Tanajara Out With Injury". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  17. ^ Donovan, Jake. "Jovanni Straffon Tabbed To Face Andy Cruz On Prograis-Haney Card, Pending Visa Approval". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  18. ^ "Devin Haney vs. Regis Prograis: The Big Fight Preview | DAZN News US". DAZN. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  19. ^ Gray, Tom. "Devin Haney vs. Regis Prograis full card results, schedule for 2023 boxing fight | Sporting News". www.sportingnews.com. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  20. ^ "BoxRec: Andy Cruz vs. Jovanni Straffon". BoxRec.com.
  21. ^ Idec, Keith. "Andy Cruz Batters Jovanni Straffon, Stops Him In 3rd Round On Prograis-Haney Undercard". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  22. ^ "CompuBox: Andy Cruz vs. Jovanni Straffon". beta.compuboxdata.com.

External links

Olympic boxing champions – men's lightweight
World amateur boxing champions – men's light welterweight
Pan American Champions in Boxing – Men's Bantamweight
Pan American Champions in Boxing – Men's Light Welterweight
Categories