Clottey Fights Cruz April 3

Ghana’s world title hopeful, Joshua ‘The Hitter’ Clottey, steps into the ring for the first time this year against Mexican Jose Luis Cruz in New York City on April 3. The fight comes after Clottey emerged victorious against previously undefeated Shamone ‘The Truth’ Alvarez in a final IBF welterweight eliminator on December 12 last year in Las Vegas. The 30-year-old Ghanaian welterweight boxer has lost only twice in his professional career which he began in 1995 from his homeland in Ghana. Clottey (33-2, 19 KOs), currently based in Bronx, New York, is also waiting the outcome of negotiations for his possible IBF world title fight. His eligibility for the title fight comes from his last victory over Alvarez which moved him up to the number one contender position on the IBF rankings. After a failed attempt at the WBO welterweight title against then champion, Antonio Magarito in 2006, Clottey maintained a clean sheet in all his three fights last year. Among some significant gains Clottey has made are annexing the NABC and IBF Intercontinental welterweight titles as well as the WBC Continental America’s light middleweight title. Aside his number one contender position on the IBF rankings, he is ranked fourth at WBO. Interestingly enough Cruz (34-3-2, 27 KOs), has also fought Alvarez (Clottey’s last opponent) before but lost to him through a unanimous decision. This loss in June last year also cost Cruz the WBO NABO welterweight title. In the biggest fight of his career, Cruz failed to grab the WBC International title after recording a draw with former world champion Carlos Manuel Baldomir, to whom Clottey recorded a controversial loss. Cruz, an orthodox, has also had stints with some fringe titles like WBC Continental Americas and WBC FECARBOX welterweight titles between 1999 and 2000.