UniMas Quick Pick

Cruz looks to rebound after a KO loss

Orlando Cruz vs. Gamalier Rodriguez: With a big Showtime card headline by the ageless Bernard Hopkins it would be easy to overlook Saturday's UniMas card.  However any card that has rising prospect Felix Verdejo fighting on it is a must watch.  Since Verdejo is still only fighting in 6 round bouts he won't be covered by Big Tim Boxing, but the main event of that card will be.  That fight is a matchup between the first openly gay boxer to come out during his career Orlando Cruz (20-3-1, 10 KO) as he looks to rebound from a knockout to Orlando Salido.  Cruz will be challenged by Gamalier Rodriguez (23-2-3, 16 KO) in a 10 round featherweight fight.  This fight should really be a game of cat and mouse.  Rodriguez will be the more aggressive fighter pushing the action while Cruz will look to use his superior footwork to avoid danger while landing from the outside.  Rodriguez is the heavier fisted fighter in this bout but he relies a little too much on that power and doesn't have a very high punch output.  Typically Rodriguez charges forward behind a good stiff jab and he likes to dig his right hand to the body.  He also has a good left hook that he should utilize more often than he does.  Coming into his fight against Salido, Cruz was riding high.  In his fight previous to that he dropped his man four times en route to a 6th round knockout.  However Salido was just to tough and heavy fisted for him and Cruz could only stand up to his punishment for 7 rounds before being knocked out.  Cruz is a southpaw with a solid jab and right hook but he isn't elite offensively.  Cruz should do his best to keep Rodriguez on the outside but he will need to do a lot of punching and not just flick the jab and roll out of danger.  Cruz does have the better resume with fights against Salido and Daniel Ponce De Leon both fights which he lost.  However Rodriguez isn't at the same level of Salido or Ponce De Leon.  If Cruz can flash his improved power without being suckered into a brawl he should be able to outbox Rodriguez.  Rodriguez should look to go to the body early in an effort to slow Cruz down and make him an easier target.  I expect this to be a competitive fight but it will be the better footwork of Cruz that will be the difference.  I think Cruz will win this fight by the way of split decision.