# Roberto Cruz (boxer)

Roberto Dela Cruz (born November 21, 1941, in Baguio, Philippine Commonwealth) is a first Filipino former professional boxer. Cruz won the WBA light-welterweight title in a career that spanned from 1955 to 1968.

## Early life

Roberto Cruz was born on November 21, 1941, in Baguio, Philippines.

## Professional career

Cruz made his professional debut on February 10, 1955, losing to Laureano Llarenas via a four round points decision. It took until his third fight to achieve his first victory, beating Peping Cortez with a third round knockout. Cruz's first title success came on October 1, 1959, when he beat Leo Espinosa over twelve rounds for the Philippines Games & Amusement Board (GAB) Featherweight title. Over the next three years Cruz also won the GAB Welterweight title but also suffered five defeats in non-title bouts.
On March 21, 1963, Cruz fought outside the Philippines for the first time as he travelled to the United States to fight the Mexican boxer Battling Torres for the vacant WBA Light Welterweight title. The fight took place at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles as part of a title triple-header which also featured; Emile Griffith vs Luis Manuel Rodriguez at welterweight and Sugar Ramos vs Davey Moore at featherweight. Cruz, who was the underdog, knocked Torres out in the first round to win the title. However, the night will be remembered more for the hospitalization and eventual death of Moore following his fight with Ramos. For the first defence of his title Cruz returned to the Philippines to fight the American Eddie Perkins on June 15, 1963. Perkins, a former world champion, won the fight with a fifteen round points victory in front of 25,000 fans at the Rizal Baseball Stadium. The fight started badly for Cruz as he was knocked down in the opening round and badly hurt in the third and sixth rounds. Although he was able to last the distance, he was unable to retain his title and would never fight for a world championship again.
The final fight of Cruz's professional career took place on September 28, 1968, in Angeles City, Philippines, where he was knocked out in the third round by Fel Pedranza.

## Professional boxing record

| 44 fights | 29 wins | 12 losses |
| By knockout | 12 | 3 |
| By decision | 17 | 9 |
| Draws | 3 | 3 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 44 | Loss | 29–12–3 | Fel Pedranza | KO | 3 (?) | 1968-09-28 | Angeles City, Philippines | |
| 43 | Loss | 29–11–3 | Takeshi Fuji | KO | 2 (10) | 1968-04-02 | Nakajima Sports Center, Sapporo, Japan | |
| 42 | Win | 29–10–3 | Masakatsu Narita | KO | 9 (10) | 1967-09-09 | Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines | |
| 41 | Draw | 28–10–3 | Carl Peñalosa | PTS | 10 (10) | 1966-10-29 | Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines | |
| 40 | Win | 28–10–2 | Carl Peñalosa | PTS | 10 (10) | 1966-07-10 | Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines | |
| 39 | Win | 27–10–2 | Rocky Montante | KO | 5 (?) | 1965-09-18 | Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines | |
| 38 | Loss | 26–10–2 | Peter Cobblah | PTS | 10 (10) | 1965-01-23 | Manila, Philippines | |
| 37 | Win | 26–9–2 | Flash Tac Bolano | KO | 3 (?) | 1963-12-21 | Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila, Philippines | |
| 36 | Loss | 25–9–2 | Eddie Perkins | UD | 15 (15) | 1963-06-15 | Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila, Philippines | Lost WBA light-welterweight title; For inaugural WBC and vacant The Ring light-welterweight titles |
| 35 | Win | 25–8–2 | Raymundo Torres | KO | 1 (15) | 1963-03-21 | Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | Won vacant WBA light-welterweight title |
| 34 | Win | 24–8–2 | Terry Flores | KO | 6 (12) | 1962-09-15 | Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines | Retained Filipino (GAB) welterweight title |
| 33 | Loss | 23–8–2 | Shigemasa Kawakami | KO | 3 (10) | 1962-04-07 | Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines | |
| 32 | Win | 23–7–2 | Munchai Rorfortor | PTS | 10 (10) | 1962-01-10 | Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines | |
| 31 | Loss | 22–7–2 | Johnny Gonsalves | UD | 10 (10) | 1961-10-21 | Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines | |
| 30 | Win | 22–6–2 | Gary Cowburn | PTS | 10 (10) | 1961-08-05 | Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines | |
| 29 | Win | 21–6–2 | Rocky Kalingo | UD | 12 (12) | 1961-04-26 | Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines | Won vacant Filipino (GAB) welterweight title |
| 28 | Draw | 20–6–2 | J D Ellis | PTS | 10 (10) | 1960-11-19 | Quezon City, Philippines | |
| 27 | Loss | 20–6–1 | Solomon Boysaw | SD | 10 (10) | 1960-07-09 | Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines | |
| 26 | Loss | 20–5–1 | Solomon Boysaw | PTS | 10 (10) | 1960-06-04 | Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines | |
| 25 | Win | 20–4–1 | Sompong Pitakasmut | KO | 5 (?) | 1960-04-02 | Manila, Philippines | |
| 24 | Loss | 19–4–1 | Young Terror | PTS | 10 (10) | 1960-01-23 | Zamboanga City, Philippines | |
| 23 | Win | 19–3–1 | Flashy Panio | PTS | 8 (8) | 1959-12-19 | Barguio mountain retreat, Baguio, Philippines | |
| 22 | Win | 18–3–1 | Paulito Escarlan | PTS | 10 (10) | 1959-12-06 | FEU Gymnasium, Manila, Philippines | |
| 21 | Win | 17–3–1 | Leo Espinosa | UD | 12 (12) | 1959-10-01 | Manila, Philippines | Won Filipino (GAB) featherweight title |
| 20 | Win | 16–3–1 | Flashy Panio | PTS | 8 (8) | 1959-07-26 | Calumpit, Philippines | |
| 19 | Win | 15–3–1 | Gil Flores | KO | 8 (12) | 1959-06-05 | Manila, Philippines | |
| 18 | Win | 14–3–1 | Tanny Campo | PTS | 10 (10) | 1959-03-21 | Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila, Philippines | |
| 17 | Win | 13–3–1 | Army Wonder Boy | KO | 7 (?) | 1958-11-21 | Quezon City, Philippines | |
| 16 | Win | 12–3–1 | Rudy Lopez | KO | 2 (?) | 1958-10-31 | Manila, Philippines | |
| 15 | Win | 11–3–1 | Larry Fernandez | PTS | 8 (8) | 1958-09-19 | Manila, Philippines | |
| 14 | Win | 10–3–1 | Dio Cagulada | KO | 3 (8) | 1958-08-18 | Quezon City, Philippines | |
| 13 | Loss | 9–3–1 | Ernie Masangkay | PTS | 8 (8) | 1958-04-25 | San Fernando, Philippines | |
| 12 | Win | 9–2–1 | Peping Cortez | KO | 3 (?) | 1958-03-22 | Guagua, Philippines | |
| 11 | Draw | 8–2–1 | Tiger Willie | PTS | 6 (6) | 1958-02-01 | Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila, Philippines | |
| 10 | Win | 8–2 | Ernie Paredes | PTS | 6 (6) | 1957-11-29 | Manila, Philippines | |
| 9 | Win | 7–2 | Pancho Dilla | PTS | 6 (6) | 1957-10-23 | Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila, Philippines | |
| 8 | Win | 6–2 | Max Posadas Jr | PTS | 4 (4) | 1957-08-01 | Olongapo, Philippines | |
| 7 | Loss | 5–2 | Dixie Logan | PTS | 6 (6) | 1957-04-01 | Philippines | |
| 6 | Win | 5–1 | ? | KO | ? (?) | 1956-12-01 | Philippines | |
| 5 | Win | 4–1 | Rudy Santamaria | PTS | 4 (4) | 1956-08-01 | Baguio, Philippines | |
| 4 | Win | 3–1 | ? | PTS | 4 (4) | 1956-03-01 | Philippines | |
| 3 | Win | 2–1 | ? | PTS | 4 (4) | 1955-10-01 | Philippines | |
| 2 | Win | 1–1 | ? | PTS | 4 (4) | 1955-06-01 | Manila, Philippines | |
| 1 | Loss | 0–1 | Laureano Llarenas | PTS | 4 (4) | 1955-02-10 | Philippines | |