WBA Title Fight Between Cruz, Esparragoza on Feb. 28 to Be Promoted by Houston Group

The Houston Boxing Assn. will promote the Feb. 28 World Boxing Assn. featherweight championship bout between titleholder Steve Cruz and No. 1 contender Antonio Esparragoza of Venezuela.

Dave Gorman, Cruz’ manager, bid $123,000 for the HBA. Sites under consideration for the fight are Fort Worth, the champion’s hometown; San Antonio, and Atlantic City, N.J.

Cruz, who won the title from Barry McGuigan June 23, will get 75% of the purse and Esparragoza 25%.

The other two promoting firms participating in the bidding, presided over by WBA president Gilberto Mendoza, were Video Deportes of Puerto Rico and Difusora Interamericana of Venezuela, which offered $83,000 and $110,000 respectively.