Carlos Teo Cruz vs. Mando Ramos (2nd meeting)

Mando Ramos 134 lbs beat Carlos Teo Cruz 135 lbs by TKO at 2:41 in round 11 of 15

• Date: 1969-02-18
• Location: Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California, USA
• Referee: John Thomas 5-3
• Judge: George Latka 4-4
• Judge: Dick Young 3-6

• WBC Lightweight Title
• WBA Lightweight Title
• Cruz's cut eye stops the fight
• Promoter: Aileen Eaton

"Mando Ramos, 20, Long Beach, Calif., won the lightweight championship of the world when he stopped 31 year old Carlos (Teo) Cruz of the Dominican Republic in the 11th round of their scheduled 15 round fight Tuesday night. Ramos ripped open an ugly gash over Teo's left eye in the 8th round. He kept reopening it as well as slicing a smaller cut under the eye until the bloody drama was stopped with 19 seconds remaining in the 11th. Under California rules it is ruled a knockout, only the second suffered by Cruz in more than a decade as a professional fighter." -Associated Press

• Attendance - 14,183
• Gate - $147,732
• Purses - Cruz - $60,000, Ramos - $10,000

Unofficial scorecards (at time of the stoppage)

• AP - 5-3 Cruz
• Pasadena Star-News - 6-5 Ramos
• Boxing Illustrated - 5-4 Cruz
• Long Beach Press-Telegram - Two writers from the Press-Telegram tallied scores. Dave Lewis had it 7-2 for Ramos and Hank Hollingsworth scored it 5-3 for Ramos.

Post fight comments

• "We don't know what's next. A guy would have to be a real optimist to make any plans before going into a title fight." -Jackie McCoy, Ramos' manager, regarding his next opponent

• "We'll ask for a rematch. Afterall, we gave him two shots at the title." -Peter Martinez, Cruz' manager

• "No way, I'm tired of these $60,000 guarantees. But I might put on a rematch if the price is right." -Aileen Eaton, Promoter for the Olympic Boxing Club, regarding a 3rd Cruz-Ramos fight.

• "I could have gone on if the blood hadn't blinded me. I didn't want them to stop it, but the referee and doctor are boss and I'll agree with what they said. I thought I was winning until I suffered my cut in the 8th round." -Teo Cruz

• "A right hand opened up his eye, but it was my left hook mixed in with my left jabs that turned the fight around. I started to dig my left into his stomach and I could hear him grunt. I knew I was going to win once this happened." -Mando Ramos

• "It will take at least 4 to 6 stitches to close the cut, which is about 2" long. It was hopeless, it was hemorrhaging under the tissue and obstructing his vision." -Dr. Bernard Schwartz