{{short description|Dominican Republic boxer}} {{For|the Mexican boxer|Leo Santa Cruz}} {{Infobox boxer |name=Leo Cruz |realname=Leonardo Cruz |nickname=Leo |weight={{plainlist| *Super bantamweight}} |height=5 ft 5+1/2 in |nationality=Dominican |birth_date={{Birth date and age|1953|1|17|mf=y}} |birth_place=Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic |style=Orthodox |total=51 |wins=41 |KO=18 |losses=8 |draws=2 }}
'''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. He is the younger brother of former lightweight world champion of boxing Carlos Cruz.
==Personal== Leo was the brother of Carlos Cruz. Carlos had conquered the world Lightweight title by beating Carlos Ortiz in 1968, but lost his life in a plane crash on February 15, 1970 that killed all 102 passengers and crew on board.<ref name="END">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2012-02-12 |title=Una tragedia aérea que aún duele |trans-title=An aerial tragedy that still hurts |url=http://www.elnuevodia.com/nota-1188363.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505004408/http://www.elnuevodia.com/nota-1188363.html |archive-date=2014-05-05 |access-date=2024-08-22 |website= |publisher=El Nuevo Dia |language=es}}</ref>
==Early life== Leo moved to Puerto Rico early in the 1970s, and began identifying himself as half Puerto Rican almost immediately.
==Pro career== He began his successful professional boxing career in Puerto Rico, 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 Gómez,<ref name="time">{{cite news|last=Perez|first=Santos|title=Palma vs. Cruz, one more time|work=The Miami News|date=1982-06-10|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8rgmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cQIGAAAAIBAJ&pg=3158,2702626|accessdate=2010-12-17|archive-date=2020-02-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223185107/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8rgmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cQIGAAAAIBAJ&pg=3158,2702626|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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 Victor Palma, in Buenos Aires. Cruz was beaten by a decision in 15 by the Argentine world champion,<ref name="time"/> but in a rematch on 12 June 1982 at Miami, Cruz became world champion by defeating Palma by a decision, also in 15 rounds.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fans' Spirit Helps Cruz Earn Decision|work=Gainesville Sun|agency=Associated Press|date=1982-06-14|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hXMfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sukDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4220,5221967|accessdate=2010-12-17}}</ref>
Cruz in his first defense knocked out Benito Badilla of Chile in eight rounds, at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan.<ref>{{cite news|title=Leo Cruz makes first title defense|work=St. Joseph News-Press|agency=Associated Press|date=1982-11-13|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ns1bAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pFINAAAAIBAJ&pg=2493,1862982|accessdate=2010-12-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Mancini blasts rival, who is critical|work=Star-News|date=1982-11-14|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8AEzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dBMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6506,3283516|accessdate=2010-12-17}}</ref> When Gómez 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,<ref name="defends">{{cite news|title=Cruz defends title|work=Reading Eagle|agency=United Press International|date=1983-03-16|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=clMiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OacFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6025,5314096|accessdate=2010-12-17}}</ref> by decision in 15; after dropping him in round eight; also in San Juan.<ref name="defends"/> In his first defense at his home country, Cruz put his title on the line in August 1983 against Nicaraguan challenger Cleo Garcia at Santo Domingo. Cruz retained the title by a decision.
With a defense against Puerto Rican ''Victor Luvi Callejas'' looming ahead,<ref>{{cite news|title=Sports Shorts|work=The Lewiston Daily Sun|agency=Associated Press|date=1984-02-22|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jJMgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=m2cFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5668,3632306|accessdate=2010-12-17}}</ref> Cruz went to Milan in February 1984, and, while defending his crown against Italian Loris Stecca, was stopped in round 12, therefore losing the WBA world junior featherweight title.<ref>{{cite news|title=Stecca overcomes Cruz|work=Reading Eagle|agency=Associated Press|date=1984-02-23|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rFciAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lacFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2724,1401530|accessdate=2010-12-17}}</ref>
==Comeback== Cruz attempted a comeback in 1985, winning one fight, but retiring for good after losing a second comeback fight in 1989.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{boxrec|id=11144}}
{{S-start}} {{s-ach|ach}} {{s-bef|before=Sergio Victor Palma}} {{s-ttl|title=WBA Super Bantamweight Champion | years=June 12, 1982 - February 22, 1984}} {{s-aft|after=Loris Stecca}} {{S-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cruz, Leo}} Category:1953 births Category:Living people Category:World super-bantamweight boxing champions Category:World Boxing Association champions Category:Sportspeople from Santiago de los Caballeros Category:Dominican Republic expatriates in Puerto Rico Category:Dominican Republic male boxers Category:20th-century Dominican Republic sportsmen