Boxing veteran and New York Golden Gloves record holder Christina Cruz claimed a silver medal in the bantamweight division at the Strandja Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria on Saturday.
Cruz faced off with reigning world champion and host nation boxer Stanimira Petrova of Bulgaria in the bantamweight final round on Saturday. She fell by a 3-0 margin to the hometown hero but returns to the United States with a silver medal for her impressive showing in Bulgaria.
In addition to Cruz’s silver, flyweight Virginia Fuchs (Kemah, Texas) won a bronze medal in the opening international tournament of the year for USA Boxing.
The U.S. squad, which also included lightweight Mikaela Mayer (Los Angeles, Calif.), light welterweight Rashida Ellis (Lynn, Mass.), and middleweight Tika Hemingway (Pittsburgh, Pa.), is traveling home today.
Coaches Israel Acosta (Milwaukee, Wis.), Joe Guzman (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Andrews Soto (Phoenix, Ariz.) led the U.S. squad in the first international tournament of the year in Bulgaria with Dr. Larry Lovelace serving as the team physician and Jose Feliciano serving as the AIBA official.
119 lbs: Stanimira Petrova, BUL, dec. Christina Cruz, New York, N.Y./USA, 3-0
Previous Results
Christina Cruz enjoyed a major victory on Friday at the Strandja Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria. Cruz put an end to the American losing streak against Chinese foes with her semifinal win over Piaopiao Liu in today’s semifinal action. Flyweight Virginia Fuchs (Kemah, Texas) will take home a bronze medal from the international tournament following her semifinal loss.
Cruz took a 2-1 decision over Liu in their semifinal match-up to advance the American boxer on to a final round contest with her World Championships’ conqueror Stanimira Petrova of host nation Bulgaria. Petrova went on to win gold in the 2014 Elite Women’s World Championships in November, but Cruz is looking to avenge her recent loss in their final round meeting on Saturday.
Fuchs took on a Bulgarian opponent in Friday’s semifinals but dropped a 2-1 decision to Stoyka Petrova in their flyweight match. Her semifinal round finish gives Fuchs a bronze medal in the international tournament.
112 lbs: Stoyka Petrova, BUL, dec. Virginia Fuchs, Kemah, Texas/USA, 2-1
119 lbs: Christina Cruz, New York, N.Y./USA dec. Piaopiao Liu, CHN, 2-1
