Andy Cruz Gómez

Cuban boxer who fights in the 64 kg division.

Andy was born in the municipality of Unión de Reyes in Matanzas. From an early age, together with his father, Pedro Cruz, he enjoyed watching boxing matches on television. This is how he became a fan of the sport of boxing and decided to dedicate himself to it completely.

2009 - 2012
His first trainer was Gustavo Delgado and later he came under the tutelage of Juan Hernández Sierra. He participated in the World Junior Championship in Armenia in 2011, which he reached after winning the national tournament in the under 18 years category.

2013 - 2016
In 2015 he would rise to stardom in the 56 kg division by winning the gold medal at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games.

2017 - 2020
In 2018, on the opening day of the VIII AIBA World Series of Boxing that took place at the Sports City in Havana, Andy put on a boxing clinic, defeating his opponent Andrés García of the Heroic of Colombia, 3-0. His team Domadores de Cuba won all five fights. On February 27 at the Tashkent University Sports Complex he defeated 2-1 Ikboljon Kholdarov, of the Tigers of Uzbekistan, who won 4-1 as hosts although Cuba continues at the top of the Group. On March 23, at the José María Vargas Dome, he defeated 3-0 Christian Polanco of the Chiefs of Venezuela. His team won 3-2 against the hosts. On September 26, in the grand final, in the Chinese city of Xiamen, he defeated 2-1 his opponent Dilmurat Mizhitov, of the Astana Arlans of Kazakhstan. His team Domadores de Cuba obtained their third championship in World Series of Boxing by completing a success of 7-3 against their opponents.

On March 11 he secured one of the first spots for the XXIII Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla 2018, by winning at the Eliminary Tournament held in Tijuana, Mexico, against Puerto Rican Omar Rosario. At the same event on August 1, 2018, he won the gold medal by no-show of his opponent, Dominican Elvis Rodríguez.

On December 20 of this year, in the final fight of the 57th edition of the Playa Girón Boxing Tournament, held in the Rafael Fortún Multipurpose Hall in Camagüey, he defeated 5-0 Guantanamo's Jorge Moirán to win the title, becoming the most technical boxer of this tournament.

He won a bronze medal on April 8, 2019 at the Qualifying Tournament held in Managua, Nicaragua, securing his spot for the Pan American Games in Lima. On April 10 in the final of this same tournament he won the gold medal by defeating 3-2 American Davis Keyshawn.

During the Lima 2019 Pan American Games, fighting in the 64 kg division, he left no doubt and would reclaim the title of the division for Cuba by defeating American Keyshawn Davis in the final.

On December 18 of this year, in the final of the 58th edition of the Playa Girón Boxing Tournament, held in the Rafael Fortún Multipurpose Hall in Camagüey, he defeated 5-0 Guantanamo's Jorge Moirant, in the 63 kg category, winning the gold medal, being part of the Honor Roll, as the most technical boxer of this tournament.

At the Cuban Boxing Challengers Match held at the Rafael Fortún Palace of Sports in Camagüey on November 27, 2020, he achieved victory (3-1) against Guantanamo's Jorge Moirán in the 63 kg category.

On August 8, 2021 Andy Cruz obtained Olympic gold in Tokyo 2020 by winning by split decision against the USA fighter in the 63 kg division. Andy celebrated his victory with the dance of the mythical king of pop, Michael Jackson.

As he promised his parents, the Matanzas native prevailed in an exciting final, which was not decided until the last round, and gave Cuba its seventh gold medal, the fourth of the flagship.

Awards and Recognition
2018 - In 2018, together with discus thrower Yaimé Pérez, he stood out as one of the best athletes in Cuba, in the individual category, as reported by the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) in the auditorium of the Coliseum of the Sports City.
2018 - Chosen together with Dianelys Pérez of sport shooting as the most outstanding athlete of the year 2018 in Matanzas.
2019 - Selected by votes collected by INDER and the Circle of Sports Journalists of the UPEC, among the ten most outstanding athletes of this year in Cuba, with 142 of 220 votes counted.
2019 - Chosen as the best male athlete this year in the province of Matanzas.