Unbeaten Fortuna devastates ex-champ Cruz in two rounds

If Cristobal Cruz has any notion of continuing to fight, he should look at the tape of Friday's second round at the Hard Rock Hotel.

He'll see himself face down on the canvas, lucky to have gotten up. He failed to win for the fifth straight fight, as Javier Fortuna dominated him for the five minutes, 22 seconds, they were in the ring together in their 10-round super featherweight bout.

Cruz, a former IBF featherweight champion, was no match for the younger southpaw from the Domincan Republic, who knocked down Cruz in each of the first two rounds, the second of which essentially ended the fight as referee Robert Byrd wisely told a wobbly Cruz he was done for the night at 2:22 of the second round.

"He should quit," the 22-year-old Fortuna said through an interpreter. "He had no power in his punches. I had tougher fights in my sparring.

"But this is a big win for me. I wanted to look good (on ESPN), and I am very happy with my performance. Hopefully, this will lead to bigger fights and a world title shot soon."

Fortuna (20-0) came out swinging, landing his left at will and dropping Cruz 50 seconds into the fight. It was evident early on this was a mismatch, and the 35-year-old Cruz was simply unable to keep up.

In the second round, it was more of the same. Fortuna kept landing lefts mixed in with a few rights, and Cruz had no answer. Then, Fortuna landed a sharp straight left to the chin that felled Cruz, who somehow managed to beat the count. But he was in no condition to continue, and Byrd did his job in calling a halt to the fight.

"I was afraid he was going to head-butt me and cut me," Fortuna said. "I was trying to take him out early. I thought I had him in the first round, but after I knocked him down in the second, I knew he was done."

Cruz (39-14-3) last won on July 11, 2009, when he was the world champion and beat Jorge Solis. But he said he will not retire.

"No way," he said through an interpreter. "It was just a bad night."

On the undercard, Las Vegas featherweight Rocco Santomauro and Russian heavyweight Magomed Abdusalamov were victorious to remain undefeated.

Satomauro improved to 9-0 after earning a four-round unanimous decision over Dewayne Wisdom (2-4).

Abdusalamov (15-0) had no trouble with Maurice Byarm (13-2-1). Abdusalamov was all over Byarm from the outset, landing big left hooks to the head and body and nearly knocking him out late in the first round.

The onslaught continued in the second round until referee Tony Weeks stopped the fight 43 seconds into the round.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.