2021 Dominican Olympian Alexy de la Cruz (9-0, 3 KOs) believes he is ready to begin the journey toward a professional world championship. The 30 year-old junior lightweight makes his CES Boxing debut on Saturday, September 26th when he faces Bronx veteran Angel Luna (20-19-1, 12 KOs) in the eight-round main event at Bally’s Lincoln Casino Resort in Rhode Island. Tickets to Fight Night in America are available beginning at just $70. Purchase yours now at CESFights.com. "This is my new beginning," said De la Cruz from his training camp in the Dominican Republic. "It’s a new chapter with a promotional company that has given me an opportunity, and the fans can expect the best from me. I know what I’m made of," said de la Cruz. "I’m made for big things. That’s why I work so hard and why I’m always ready for the opportunity. Right now, I feel like I can fight any of the world champions in my division."

 

Before turning professional, de la Cruz enjoyed an extensive international amateur career highlighted by representing the Dominican Republic at the Tokyo Olympic Games. It was the realization of a dream that began more than a decade earlier. De la Cruz began boxing at age ten after losing a fistfight with a neighborhood kid who already trained in the sport. His brother suggested he learn how to box. At the time, de la Cruz was playing baseball – the sport most closely associated with Dominican athletes – but everything changed the first time he stepped into a boxing gym. "It’s hard to explain," says de la Cruz of what attracted him to boxing.  "From the moment I put those gloves on, I knew that was what I wanted to do."   

 

His Olympic aspirations began shortly thereafter when he watched fellow Dominican Félix Díaz capture gold at the 2008 Beijing Games. "I remember watching that and saying, ‘One day, I’m going to be there,’" said de la Cruz. "And eventually, I was."

 

At the Tokyo Olympics, Alexy advanced from the round of 32 with a win over Keevin Allicock in the featherweight tournament.  He was eliminated in the round of 16 by Albert Batyrgaziev, who went on to win the gold medal.  A year later, De la Cruz won a bronze medal at the 2021 IBA amateur world championships and with a successful amateur legacy in place, he decided to turn pro in 2022. 

 

As a professional, De la Cruz quickly built a 9-0 record, culminating with a ten-round split-decision victory over Colombian puncher Luis Ruiz in June 2025. An unusual setback then interrupted his momentum: after Alexy's passport was damaged, he was forced to navigate the process of securing a new visa before he could return to the United States.

 

While awaiting his return to traditional professional boxing, de la Cruz found another outlet in Team Boxing League (TBL), where he competed in 2026 for the Boston Butchers. De la Cruz imagined a scenario to prepare for the unique format of an all-or-nothing one round fight. "I would tell myself, ‘I'm fighting a twelve-round world championship fight. It’s the final round and I'm losing six rounds to five. I have to win this round,’" he said. "That’s how I put myself in the right mindset every time."

 

The mental gymnastics worked, as De la Cruz compiled a 14-2 record in TBL competition.  His poise and fighting acumen caught the attention of CES Boxing Founder Jimmy Burchfield Sr., who is also the General Manager of the Butchers.  "Alexy de la Cruz is exactly the kind of fighter we want at CES Boxing," said Burchfield. "He’s an Olympian, he’s undefeated, he has tremendous skills and, most importantly, he’s hungry. This young man believes he can become a world champion, and after watching him compete and getting to know him, I believe it too. September 26th is the beginning of a new chapter for Alexy, and we’re excited to be part of this journey with him."

 

His first assignment under the CES banner comes against Luna, a fellow Dominican fighting out of the Bronx who has shared the ring with the likes of former champion Tevin Farmer, plus Kevin Walsh and Amado Vargas during his 40-fight professional career. "He’s an experienced fighter, but the biggest difference between us is that he doesn’t have the hunger to win that I have," assessed de la Cruz. "I may not have as much professional experience as he does, but I have Olympic pedigree and everything that came with my amateur career."

 

For de la Cruz, September 26th represents the first step in what he hopes will be a rapid climb through the super featherweight division. "My dream is to become undisputed world champion," he said emphatically.  "Right now, I feel like I can fight any world champion. Put me in there with any of them. I’m that confident that I’m going to win."

 

Among the fighters on his radar are WBC 130-pound champion O'Shaquie Foster and three-division world champion Emanuel "Vaquero" Navarrete. "I’m focused on any of the champions," said de la Cruz. "Whoever has a title, they better be ready, because I’m coming for them."

 

While de la Cruz is supremely confident that he has the talent and work ethic to capture a world title, he also is aware of how quickly a fighter’s trajectory can change if he loses sight of the opponent immediately in front of him.  "You can’t try to reach heaven before reaching the moon," says De la Cruz. "So my focus is entirely on Angel Luna on September 26."

 

The Dominican also realizes that a fighter can have all the talent in the world, but if he doesn’t have the right team behind him, it is very difficult to reach the top. "It’s one thing to have talent, it’s another thing for someone to give you an opportunity," explained de la Cruz. "There are a lot of people who have talent but never get a chance. I’m very thankful that Jimmy Burchfield gave me the opportunity to fight for him and to become part of his company.  God willing, I won’t disappoint him."

 

Beyond the obvious talent and pedigree, it is this combination of faith, responsibility and humility that make De la Cruz a fighter to look out for as he enters the spotlight on September 26th. "Every time I step into the ring, I give everything I have," shares de la Cruz. "I work hard so that when opportunities come, I’m ready to take advantage of them.  Every opportunity that God gives me, I’m going to make the most of it."