WBA Title Fight Between Cruz, Esparragoza on Feb. 28 to Be Promoted by Houston Group

CARACAS, Venezuela — The Houston Boxing Assn. will promote the Feb. 28 World Boxing Assn. featherweight championship bout between titleholder Steve Cruz and No. 1 contender Antonio Esparragoza of Venezuela.

Dave Gorman, Cruz’ manager, bid $123,000 for the HBA. Sites under consideration for the fight are Fort Worth, the champion’s hometown; San Antonio, and Atlantic City, N.J.

Cruz, who won the title from Barry McGuigan June 23, will get 75% of the purse and Esparragoza 25%.

The other two promoting firms participating in the bidding, presided over by WBA president Gilberto Mendoza, were Video Deportes of Puerto Rico and Difusora Interamericana of Venezuela, which offered $83,000 and $110,000 respectively.