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Orlando Salido was predictably much too much for Orlando Cruz tonight at the Thomas & Mack Center, punishing his Puerto Rican foe and stopping him just over a minute into the seventh round as Cruz tried to stand his ground, losing the war of wills.
Salido (40-12-2, 28 KO) was just far too strong for Cruz (20-3-1, 10 KO), a fighter who had won four straight but had never succeeded on this level, falling well short again tonight. Cruz took plenty of hard shots, and by the third or fourth round, it was clear that Salido knew he couldn't be hurt, and was ready to throw caution to the wind. Punishing Cruz to the body and head with charging combinations. Cruz, valiant and brave though he was, just couldn't stand up to the difference in levels and power.
Simply put, Salido is a top featherweight. Cruz is not.
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