Flanagan stops Cruz in 8th to keep WBO lightweight belt

Flanagan stops Cruz in 8th to keep WBO lightweight belt

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 3:39 p.m. ET

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) Orlando Cruz of Puerto Rico will have to wait to become the first openly gay boxer to win a world title after being stopped in the eighth round by WBO lightweight champion Terry Flanagan on Saturday.

Flanagan, a British fighter, improved his professional record to 32-0 with a successful fourth defense of the belt by knocking Cruz to the canvas twice in the same round in Cardiff.

Referee Steve Gray called a halt to proceedings after a powerful right hand from Flanagan.

This was the 35-year-old Cruz's 10th bout since declaring his homosexuality in public in 2012, but it was his first in this weight class. His record dropped to 25-5-1.

ADVERTISEMENT
share