Ruelas to Fight Veteran Cruz for NABF Featherweight Title
Unbeaten featherweight Rafael Ruelas of Arleta will fight veteran Stevie Cruz for the North American Boxing Federation title March 31 in Las Vegas.
Ruelas, 19, is 23-0 with 20 knockouts. Cruz, a former World Boxing Assn. champion, is 35-5 with 19 knockouts. Cruz, 26, of Fort Worth, Tex., won the WBA title in 1986 with a victory over Barry McGuigan of Ireland but lost the title to Antonio Esparragoza in 1987.
The NABF title was vacated in January by Troy Dorsey.
Ruelas is scheduled to fight a tuneup bout Feb. 26 at the Country Club in Reseda. His opponent, pending approval of the state boxing commission, will be Vincente Gonzalez of Los Angeles.
The scheduled 12-round NABF title fight will take place at the Sands Hotel. Tickets are available through the Ten Goose Boxing Club in Van Nuys.
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