When you think of the word “boxing”, what you find coming to your mind first. Boxing gloves, a squared ring, or you may find yourself playing mental highlights of the movie series “Rocky” or photos of the past greats such as Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson or Evander Holyfield..
For Houston, Texas native Pablo Cruz who is training to make his pro debut April 28th, when you mention boxing to him his first thought is cross country running. “I was interested in boxing at first for only the cardio and conditioning. When I was younger I liked boxing but I didn’t love it.” Cruz excludes while he takes a break from hitting the target mitts at the Savannah Boxing Gym on a unusually hot March Saturday. “I had always wanted to box since I saw Oscar versus Chavez, but didn’t have the dedication it took to be good. One day my brother told me gym was nearby where we played soccer and I enrolled just to get extra conditioning.” He cracks a somewhat malevolent smile as he finishes the statement.
“It (Boxing) was easy for me. It seemed as if I could just do it without the effort that I saw others force out. I would eat some papusa then literally five minutes later be tagging guys in the ring when we sparred. I shouldn’t have been eating before training but I just wasn’t dedicated like I should have been.”
Cruz a 2011 Salvador National amateur Champion and a participant for Olympic trials says that it took the encouragement and support from two women. “my Mother and my wife actually are the reason I’m going professional and dedicated myself to boxing the last few years.
“They just believed I was good enough to compete and make it. A lot of people believe in you when they see dollar signs or just to say something positive, but they truly believed in me. I almost quit when my son was born, but Vanessa (His wife) didn’t let me. I was a amateur and she didn’t want me to quit. My mother felt the same way. There had been so many ups and so many downs but they have been there.
He cracks the malevolent smile again when the gym speakers begin to play “Triumph” by the Wu-Tang Clan. He is a fan and begins to move his head to the beat. “Whenever I slacked off my wife would say “without focus you won’t go far, stay on what your eyes is aiming at.”
attached is photo of Pablo. Cruz will be making his Pro debut on April 28th, in Houston, Texas at “Pure Pride/Puro Orgullo” boxing card promoted by I-Entertainment in association with ATR Entertainment. You can follow Pablo on Twitter: www.twitter.com/realpablocruz