NY Times · Jun 24, 2023
In the U.S., an Accomplished Cuban Boxer Takes His First Pro Steps
When the timer chimed to begin Round 3, Andy Cruz stalked Rostyslav Sabadash behind a stiff jab.
Sabadash, taller and bulkier, edged backward. Cruz, a Cuban boxer who had won the lightweight gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, popped him with two more long lefts.
Cruz is one of the most accomplished fighters ever to emerge from Cuba’s celebrated boxing program. Along with his Olympic gold, he has three amateur world titles and has twice won at the Pan American Games. But in mid-May, Cruz arrived in Northeast Philadelphia to learn how to box like a pro: He will make his professional debut in Detroit on July 15, in a 10-round bout against a rugged veteran named Juan Carlos Burgos.