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Leonardo Cruz (born approx. 1957), better known in
the world of boxing as Leo Cruz, was a world Jr.
Featherweight champion from the Dominican
Republic.

Leo was the brother of Carlos Cruz, a man whom
many recognize as one of the greatest fighters to
come out of the Dominican Republic. His brother
Carlos had conquered the world Lightweight title
by beating Carlos Ortiz in 1969, and was on his
way to a rematch with Ortiz at San Juan, Puerto
Rico|San Juan, when his Dominicana De Aviacion
DC-9 jet crashed shortly after take-off, killing
everyone on board. With that, Leo had to learn how
to deal with life's hardships at a very young age
(see: Dominicana DC-9 air disaster).

Leo moved to Puerto Rico early in the 1970s, and
began identifying himself as half Puerto Rican
almost immediately. He began his successful
professional boxing career there, 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
World Boxing Council|WBC world Jr. Featherweight
championship. Despite losing by a knockout in the
13th round against world champion Wilfredo Gomez,
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 World Boxing Association|WBA world champion
Sergio Palma, in Buenos Aires, Argentina|Buenos
Aires. Cruz was beaten by a decision in 15 by the
Argentina|Argentine world champion, but in a
rematch on February of 1982 at Miami,
Florida|Miami, Cruz became world champion by
defeating Palma by a decision, also in 15 rounds. 

Cruz in his first defense knocked out Benito
Badillo of Chile in eight rounds, at Roberto
Clemente Coliseum in San Juan. When Gomez left his
WBC title vacant soon after, Cruz became
recognized by most fans as the universal world
champion. Then, he defeated South Korea|South
Korean challenger Seoung Hoon Lee, by decision in
15; after dropping him in round eight; also in San
Juan. In his first defense at his home country,
Cruz put his title on the line on August of 1983
against Nicaragua|Nicaraguan challenger Cleo
Garcia at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic|Santo
Domingo. Cruz retained the title by a decision.

With a lucrative defense against Puerto Rican
Victor Luvi Callejas looming ahead, Cruz went to
Rome, Italy|Rome in February of 1984, and, while
defending his crown against Italy|Italian Loris
Stecca, he inexplicably quit in round 12,
therefore losing the world Featherweight title.

Cruz attempted a comeback in 1985, winning one
fight, but retiring for good after that.

==See also==
* Eleoncio Mercedes