Cruz, Cota Make Weight For Rematch in Storm-Riddled Florida

By Jake Donovan

All primary participants made weight as the show goes on Friday evening at A La Carte Pavilion in Tampa, Florida. Headlining the show — which airs live on Telemundo (Friday, 11:35pm ET) — Is super featherweight hopeful Orlando Cruz, who faces late substitute Gabino Cota.

Both boxers were just inside the 130 lb. divisional limit for the rematch to that first encounter, which also took place on Telemundo on this very weekend one year ago, two hours away in Orlando, Florida. Cruz - who won a unanimous decision in their first meet - checked in at 129.8 lbs.; Cota was slightly lighter at 129.6 lbs.

Cruz (24-4-1, 12KOs) comes in riding a four-fight win streak, including his last three all of which have taken place in Florida and on Telemundo. Most recently, the 2000 Puerto Rican Olympian scored a seventh round knockout of Romulo Koasicha in a matchup of featherweight title challengers this past July in Orlando.

The win streak follows back to back losses, including a 7th round stoppage at the hands of Orlando Salido in Oct. '12. The setback denied Cruz the opportunity to become the first openly gay boxer to win a world title, a dream that remains first and foremost on his present day wish list.

Standing in his way is an old adversary in Cota (19-6-1, 17KOs), who simply seeks a major win. The 23-year old from Mexico managed a win in his last fight following a pair of losses, suffering a 6th round knockout versus Toka Kahn Clary this past February, just four months following the setback versus Cruz.

Friday's show goes on despite much of Florida presently under emergency evacuation orders due to incoming Hurricane Matthew, believed to be the deadliest storm to hit the state since 2004. The areas under imminent threat include most of Florida's East Coast, including the Palm Bay area due to host next week's fall season finale of Boxeo Telemundo.

 FULL WEIGHTS

Orlando "El Fenomeno" Cruz 129.8 Vs. Gabino "Flash" Cota 129.6 (10 Rounds NABO Jr. Lightweight Title)
"Hurricane" Sammy Valentin 146 Vs. Joaquin "El Matador" De La Rosa 145 (6 Rounds Welterweights)
Orlando "El Zurdo" Gonzalez 123 Vs. Jonathan "El Multifero" De La Paz 124 (4 Rounds Featherweights)
Jose "The Dream" Medina 256 Vs. Tracey "The Titan" Johnson 219 (4 Rounds Heavyweights)
Connor Coyle 160 Vs. Euris "Style Boy" Silveiro 160 (4 Rounds Middleweights)
Josue Loyola 138 Vs. Tom Mills 140 (4 Rounds Jr. Welterweight)
Mark Reyes Jr. 149 Vs. Curtis "Beastmode" Waller 147 (4 Rounds Welterweights)
Fernando "El Guerrero" Martinez 150 Vs. Brandon "Killer B" Davis 149 (4 Rounds Welterweights)

Twitter: @JakeNDaBox_v2