Ronald Cruz wins by sixth-round TKO over Doel Carrasquillo

FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES

If Ronald Cruz felt any additional pressure to perform in front of a home crowd at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, he didn't show it Friday night.

Fighting in the headline event on a seven-bout card presented by Peltz Boxing Promotions, the Bethlehem resident wore down veteran Doel Carrasquillo before stopping him early in the sixth round before a crowd estimated at 1,300.

Cruz (13-0) used a familiar game plan that's proven effective as he has been gaining notice in the welterweight ranks since surprising Jeremy Bryan last fall in Atlantic City.

"I pretty much understand I can't let the emotion of the crowd affect me," Cruz said. "I had to just focus and do my job and that is what I did."

Much like his April 24 TKO over Manuel Guzman, Cruz felt out his more experienced foe for a couple of rounds before turning up an onslaught on Carrasquillo's midsection. A devastating left to the ribs sent Carrasquillo to one knee. The 38-year-old Carrasquillo survived a 10-count from referee Steve Smoger, but when Cruz continued to punish the body, the Lancaster, Pa., fighter decided he had enough just over one minute into the sixth round.

"I could tell he was weakening from the body shots," Cruz said. "I thought maybe in the seventh or eighth round he would go down, but he decided to stop fighting so he made it a shorter night for me."

When Smoger signaled an end to the fight at 1:09 of the sixth round, Cruz bounded across the ring and up onto the ropes to celebrate with the partisan crowd before leaping into the arms of his trainer, Lemuel "Indio" Rodriguez. Cruz was unsure of his next step in his boxing career but would be pleased to be included in any future events at the Sands.

"For sure, I would love to fight here in Bethlehem again. Definitely," he said with a smile.

William Miranda, an Allentown heavyweight, may need a couple of stitches for a cut over his left eye, but he was feeling no pain after earning a four-round, unanimous decision over Zeferino Albino of Philadelphia on the undercard.

The win was especially sweet for Miranda (3-3-1) as the pair had battled to a draw only six weeks earlier at the Sovereign Center in Reading.

"When the referee came at the end of the third round and wanted to look at the eye, I was like 'Oh, no,'" said a bruised but smiling, Miranda after the fight. "I am going to tell them, always, that I am fine and I see everything. I am never going to stop. Never."

Another Allentown fighter, lightweight Eliud Torres, battled to a six-round draw with Bryne Green of Vineland, N.J. Bethlehem's Eric Newell had his scheduled heavyweight bout with John Mercurio scratched when the Philadelphia fighter did not show.

Overall, both promoter J Russell Peltz and the crowd were pleased with the inaugural event held under a tent in the northeast corner of the Sands property. Peltz believes it will become an even more attractive boxing destination once the events center is completed in early 2012.

"I have no complaints," said the veteran promoter. "Everything went fine, especially for the first time. Once they build the new building I would love to do it again."

Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan was impressed with the evening and thought the Sands and the local boxing community made for an entertaining evening.

"It was tremendous for a first-time event," Callahan said. "To have this kind of support locally is great. I think we are all very happy with turnout and I think that once we get the events center up and running whether it is boxing, concerts or MMA it is all going to work out."

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/07/ronald_cruz_wins_by_sixth-roun.html