Julio Cesar La Cruz beat Muslim Gadzhimagomedov for Tokyo gold
Boxing’s two most corrupt organizations, the WBA and IBA, are teaming up to pit former Olympic medalists Muslim Gadzhimagomedov and Julio Cesar La Cruz against one another to “unify” their “bridgerweight” titles.
Gadzhimagomedov (5-0, 3 KO) and La Cruz (2-0, 2 KO) sport extremely impressive amateur pedigrees; the former boasts two world championships and a Tokyo 2020 silver medal, while the latter owns five world championships and two Olympic golds. They’ve met twice in the unpaid ranks, with La Cruz emerging victorious in both the Tokyo finals and a 2023 rematch.
As for their pro prospects, it’s hard to say anything for certain. Gadzhimagomedov made short work of the very limited Zhaoxin Zhang for the belt in July but stank out the joint last weekend against the similarly mediocre Leon Harth, while La Cruz is 35 years old and the closest thing he has to true pro experience came in the WSB.
Still, high-level amateur rivals settling the score in the pros makes for a good story. Shame that literally everything else surrounding the fight is so repugnant.
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