Cruz vs. Cota Headed to Kissimmee Civic Center
Sep 24, 2015 • 7:37 AM ET
By Jake Donovan
The fall premiere of 'Boxeo Telemundo' remains intact except for one minor detail - the location.
Originally, event handlers had the October 9 show - topped by a super featherweight attraction between Orlando Cruz and Gabino Cota to kick off the fall boxing season on Telemundo - budgeted for the Palm Bay Community Center. Public demand at an old series favorite has prompted lead promoter All Star Boxing to move the show to the Kissimmee Civic Center in downtown Kissimmee, Florida.
“We decided to change sites because of popular demand,” said Felix 'Tutico' Zabala, Jr., president of All Star Boxing. “Our loyal fans in Kissimmee kept calling and sending messages to our office asking why we where not coming this season, I realized this October marks our 14th anniversary there and decided to change sites and bring our show to them, they deserved it, it really was a no brainer.”
Cruz (21-4-1, 11KOs) made headlines three years ago, in fact in an exclusive interview with Telemundo when he revealed to the world his alternate lifestyle in becoming the first openly gay boxer. He continues to strive for a different goal, however; hoping to join Miguel Cotto and Ivan Calderon as the third member from the 2000 Puerto Rico Olympic Boxing team to capture a world title.
He came up short in his lone chance to date, suffering a 7th round knockout loss to Orlando Salido in their Oct. '13 featherweight title fight. A subsequent points loss to Gamalier Rodriguez last April put his career in a tailspin but he has since rebounded with a 4th round knockout of Edwin Lopez this past June in Puerto Rico.
Cota (18-4-1, 16KOs) is also coming off of a win that ended a losing streak, knocking out Javier Lopez (no relation to Edwin) in six rounds this past June. The victory snapped a three-fight skid for the knockout artist from Mexico, which included a 10-round decision loss to Jonathan Oquendo this past March in the first Telemundo-televised card of 2015.
That bout also took place at the Kissimmee Civic Center, with the venue to serve as the lone two stateside appearances to date for Cota.
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home.
