Crescent magazine
  • Home
  • Archives
    • Issue 1 – Spring 2018
    • Issue 2 – Fall 2018
    • Issue 3 – Spring 2019
    • Issue 4 – Fall 2019
Friday, March 24, 2023
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Crescent magazine
No Result
View All Result

Punching at his passion

Jason EdwardsbyJason Edwards
May 6, 2021
in Profiles
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

In his first exhibition fight, newly minted amateur boxer Jorge Cruz faced off against World Boxing Council champion Boyd Melson. 

“I’m gonna be honest, I got my a– handed to me, but it was good,” says Cruz. “I learned a lot from him, what I can work on. It was all love. When it came to my second exhibition that November— domination.” 

Jorge Cruz fights in a scrimmage at Ring of Honor Boxing in Waterbury.  Photos | Jason Edwards

In a small, dimly lit gym on East Main Street in Waterbury, Cruz, a junior sociology major, trains ringside on a Thursday night in preparation for an exhibition fight that Saturday. 

“It was always a little passion inside of me, but here in Waterbury, there was no way to get into the sport,” says Cruz. 

But that would change. Already having a passion for basketball and football from his high school days, Cruz would incorporate himself in the boxing world when Ring of Honor Gym opened in 2018. 

Interested in the sport at a young age, Cruz recalled watching Floyd Mayweather face off against Miguel Cotto, a Puerto Rican boxer in 2012. Watching someone with a similar ethnic background, Cruz says, gave him the inspiration to enter the ring himself in 2019. 

“It’s been history ever since,” says Cruz. 

Since then, Cruz has been able to juggle a busy school schedule in addition to spending several nights a week at the gym. 

Cruz prepares for his sparring exercises. Photos | Jason Edwards

Cruz is aiming to use his university education to become a probation officer after graduation, and given the chance, would continue toward a pro career in boxing. 

The goal? The coveted Golden Gloves. 

And the endgame? Competing in the Olympics. 

In these training and exhibition fights, Cruz finds similarities and parallels to life in boxing—the art of the comeback, training, practice and the importance of relationships and communication. 

“Other than for turning professional, [the benefits] would be the discipline, the health benefits,” says Cruz. “It makes you more of a humble person.” 

In high school, Cruz recalls seeing fights in the hallway on a daily basis, and can draw a contrast between the fight of an angry, upset person and a professional, calm and respected athlete. 

“Growing up here in Waterbury, you always see the instigators,” says Cruz. “Everyone wants to be a boxer, but no one wants to make the sacrifices.” 

After several years of learning the ins and outs of the sport, the most important lesson Cruz says he learned is respect, with his coach Michael Melendez, adding that it is important that each fighter recognize each other after each bout—not just as fighters, but as people. 

“You get a lot of respect [as a boxer,]” says Cruz before his sparring exercises. 

Cruz packs a punch while practicing sparring with Coach Melendez. Photo | Jason Edwards

“People love fighting, but they don’t want to really fight, to put the work in,” continues Melendez. 

Every time he enters the ring, Cruz said that the work he puts in every day makes him a better fighter, and a better person. 

“The ability to get knowledge every day when I go [to the gym]—I’ll take it,” says Cruz. “I don’t want to be last in line, I want to be in the front of line, a lot like in life.” 

By Jason Edwards and Kenneth Baah

Jason Edwards, Photo Editor Photo | Chris Wilson
Kenneth Baah, Online/Video Editor Photo | Jason Edwards
Tags: 2020-21 Issueboxing
Previous Post

Editor’s Letter – Fall/Spring 2021

Next Post

Cars on Campus

Jason Edwards

Jason Edwards

Next Post

Cars on Campus

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

No Result
View All Result

About Crescent

Crescent magazine highlights the issues that impact students at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Conn.

About

Crescent magazine highlights the issues that impact students at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Conn.

Categories

  • 10 Questions
  • Academics
  • Activities
  • Art
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Automotive
  • Business
  • Campus Life
  • Campus News
  • Cover Story
  • Cuisine
  • Editors' note
  • Fashion
  • Lifestyle
  • Music
  • Photography
  • Profiles
  • Sports
  • Survey
  • Top 5
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized

Tags

10 questions 2020-21 Issue academics art August Pelliccio automotive campus campus life campus news cars cars on campus cover story Editors' Letter Fall 2018 Fall 2019 Fall 2021 Fall 2022 fashion food football Genevieve Jaser Izzy Manzo Jacob Waring Jason Edwards Jeff Lamson lifestyle Meghan Olson Melanie Espinal music New Haven photography profile profiles SCSU sports spring Spring 2018 Spring 2019 Spring 2020 Spring 2022 Sustainability top 5 travel Victoria Bresnahan video
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Archives
    • Issue 1 – Spring 2018
    • Issue 2 – Fall 2018
    • Issue 3 – Spring 2019
    • Issue 4 – Fall 2019

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In