By Lem Satterfield
Puerto Rican super featherweight prospect Luis Cruz will be showcased against an opponent to be determined on the Nov. 12 card featuring eight division titlist Manny Pacquiao defending his WBO welterweight belt opposite Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Top Rank Promotions CEO Bob Arum told BoxingScene.com.
The 25-year-old Cruz is 18-0, with 14 knockouts.
"This is a very, very good fighter. He is a really terrific young talent who already has fought a number of fights for us," said Arum.
"This is a really good prospect and he's very, very popular in Puerto Rico," said Arum. "So we're going to put him in a very good fight on the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez card."
Arum said that Cruz has received nearly as much noteriety in Puerto Rico as countrymen such as WBA junior middleweight titlist Miguel Cotto (36-2, 29 KOs) and ex-WBO featherweight king Juan Manuel Lopez (30-1, 27 KOs).
"This kid Cruz, next to Miguel Cotto and Juan Manuel Lopez, is the most popular fighter in Puerto Rico. He's a terrific fighter and he's undefeated," said Arum. "Miguel Cotto proposed that we jointly promote him, which we have agreed to do. We think that there is a huge, huge upside to the kid."
Arum said that Cruz will make an appearance on a September telecast of Top Rank Live on Fox Sports Espanol before being shown on the Pacquiao-Marquez under card.
