LOS ANGELES — Amid the shadows of BMO Stadium, Bozy Ennis may very well be repeatedly heard saying, “There you go, he don’t like that!” as his Cuban protégé, Andy Cruz, stayed within the pocket and pumped left jabs into Mexican veteran Antonio Moran.
Cruz opened the pay-per-view portion of the Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov WBA junior middleweight title combat on Saturday afternoon aiming to indicate the boxing world that he shall be prepared for a world title in 2025.
Cruz (4-0, 2 knockouts) took a pleasant stride towards that aim by stopping Moran at 2:59 of the seventh spherical, taking some punishment for the primary time in his younger profession alongside the best way. It marked the third time Moran (30-7-1, 21 KOs) has been stopped.
“I’m actually comfortable. Mission achieved,” Cruz stated. “The primary purpose was to win the combat. To win the combat inside the distance was a bonus. I stated earlier than the combat it might not be simple. I managed to indicate I’m at this stage. I can go increased.”
For the primary time in his younger professional profession, Cruz was hit onerous when Moran landed a left on his proper cheek within the first spherical. However the muscular Cuban light-weight discovered his rhythm and commenced backing up Moran.
Every time Moran threw a lazy jab, Cruz made him pay with a stiff counter proper to the top.
With 30 seconds left within the fourth, Moran shocked Cruz with a left hook to the top, wobbling him. It’s the most bother Cruz has been in as a professional. Cruz wound up lasting the spherical and was greeted within the nook by Ennis, who spoke about backing up and permitting Moran to return to him.
“It was a tricky second, however you don’t (get in) the boxing trade with out anticipating to get hit,” Cruz stated.
Within the fifth, Cruz plowed Moran with a proper to the physique that brought about the Mexican some bother.
Moran, with rising confidence, got here at Cruz within the sixth. Moran was there to be hit and Cruz didn’t disappoint. However Moran stored coming. Within the final minute of the sixth, Moran related with some physique photographs.
Between the sixth and seventh, Ennis implored Cruz to let his arms go, stressing that if he was in a position to try this, he may cease Moran.
Within the seventh, Cruz discovered one other gear. With blood dripping from his nostrils, Cruz pressured Moran. With 10 seconds left within the spherical, Cruz landed an ideal overhand proper on Moran’s head, jolting him backward. Cruz adopted his wounded opponent into the ropes and landed one other crushing proper.
Moran was out on his ft. Initially, referee Gerard White was within the technique of giving Moran a rely, when Moran went stumbling throughout the ring and White waved it over at 2:59 of the seventh spherical of the scheduled 10-round combat.
CombuBox stats revealed Cruz landed 40% of his complete punches (125 (42)/316) and 45% of his energy punches (73 (29)/164). In line with CompuBox, Moran appeared to harm Cruz with a left hook with 25 seconds left within the fourth spherical, however Cruz held a 49-28 energy punches landed benefit by 5 rounds.
“My aim is a world championship by this time subsequent 12 months,” Cruz advised The Ring earlier than the combat. “I do know I’ve to take robust steps to get there.”
One in all them got here on Saturday below a relentless solar in opposition to a tricky veteran.
Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter who has been working for Ring Journal/RingTV.com since October 1997 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America.
