KING BENNY CRUISES OVER SWAN

By Mark R. Warren

09.10 - Western Australia's rising stars, Daniel "The Rock" Dawson and King Benny Cruz continue to show the pundits that they are both the real deal after their outstanding performances on Fenech Fight Night, last Friday 3rd October, Badgery Pavilion in Homebush Sydney.

The Australian Junior Middleweight Champion, Daniel "The Rock" Dawson grounded out a unanimous points decision, in his first Middleweight Bout, over Victorian Mike Cope before King Benny Cruz became the Australian Junior Lightweight Champion defeating two time Olympian James Swan with a second round KO. Cruz literally blew James Swan away.

The Craig Christian trained fighters, from Harry's Gym in Perth W.A., had spent a fortnight training and sparring the world's best at Team Fenech's Marrickville Gymnasium, with the likes of Hussein Hussein, Skinny Hussein, Vic Darchinyan and Gairy St Clair.

Christian, like his close friend Jeff Fenech, lets little, outside of a close knit network of family and friends, come between him and his boxers. Christian loves the sport, his passion burns brightly leaving no stone unturned as he tries his absolute best to help these two rising stars, Dawson and Cruz, achieve their dreams and ambitions by climbing their own Everest.

And so like his team mate, Dawson, Western Australia's newest Australian champion, King Benny Cruz, now too has an Australian Title Belt but, Christian, the W.A. trainer, is unbending in his assessment of Dawson & Cruz, he believes the belt, as prestigious as it is, needs a world crown and King Benny Cruz will be ready for the worlds best Junior Lightweight, Acelino Freitas, in as little as 5 more trips to square the ring.

When asked if he had a time frame for King Benny Cruz and Daniel "The Rock" Dawson, Christian like always was straight to the point, "I have no doubt that given four or five defences Benny will be ready, what he lacks in experience we will more than make up for it in fitness, power, enthusiasm and raw talent." Christian continued, "With Dawson well, the kid oozes class, anyone who knows the game can see that. Daniel again is a relative new comer to boxing (former two time world Kick Boxing champion) but he has beautiful balance and a right hand that could stop an elephant"

Christian continued with a warning to respective opponents, "When my boys compete we really hope their opponents have trained well and are ready to fight because these two boys will be prepared for anything and that's a guarantee."

Enter Ben Cruz who's praise of his trainer is more than glowing, "Mark, we have no excuses to keep us from being the best we can possibly be, you've trained here it's the best Boxing Gymnasium in W.A., it's up there with the world's best.

We are very fortunate, Craig would honestly put 16 to 20 hours a day into his team here, as you said he has an amazing passion for boxing."

Cruz was stoked to capture the Australian Junior Lightweight crown, "The amateur officials wouldn't even look at me even though I beat Justin Kane at the Golden Gloves which Kane then went on to win gold at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester. Now I have the Australian Junior Lightweight Title by beating James Swan who has three Commonwealth Games and two Olympics to his credentials."

The Aussie champ paid respect to Swan, "James has defeats on his C.V. but he's a real good boxer, really tough and he's only ever been beaten by world class boxers, I have enormous respect for Swannie."

Dawson & Cruz's Fight Records to date:

Daniel "The Rock" Dawson 11 Fights - 11 wins, 8 KO's
(Australian Jnr. Middleweight Champion)

King Benny Cruz 5 Fights - 5 wins, 5 KO's
(Australian Jnr. Lightweight Champion)

Trainers: Craig Christian & Bob Findanovski - Harry's Gym, Perth W.A.