Burgos Faces Cruz In Dover

Art Pelullo/Banner Promotions and Thompson Promotions present a fight card on Friday, February 24, at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino in Dover, Delaware.

The main event and co-featured bouts will be televised live on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights.”

In the 10-round main event, Juan Carlos Burgos, 28-1 with 19 knockouts, of Tijuana, B.C., Mexico, will make his first defense of the WBC Silver super featherweight title against former IBF featherweight world champion Cristobal Cruz, 39-12-3 with 23 knockouts, also of Tijuana.

Two other title fights will be included on the card. Ed Sutor, President and CEO of Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, said, “We are happy to be able to secure three titles on a card that was already good. This fight puts it over the top.”

Burgos, 25 years old, won the vacant WBC Silver title with an upset 10-round decision against previously undefeated Puerto Rican prospect Luis Cruz in his last fight on November 11. Ranked WBC No. 2, WBA No. 4, WBO No. 4, and IBF No. 6, Burgos has won three fights in a row since his only loss in a WBC featherweight world title challenge against Hozumi Hasegawa in November, 2010 – Juan gave a tremendous effort in the fast-paced, exciting battle, but lost by 12-round decision on Hasegawa’s home turf in Nagoya, Japan.

Cruz, 34 years old, is a 20-year pro – he made his debut in Mexico at 14. He won the IBF world title in October, 2008, and made three successful defenses before losing the title in May, 2010. His title reign included impressive wins against Orlando Salido, who currently holds the WBO featherweight world title, and Jorge Solis

January 31, 2012