Plinio Cruz wins Misfits Boxing debut with second-round knockout

Plinio Cruz, a former mixed martial arts fighter and coach to Alex Pereira, secured a knockout victory in his Misfits Boxing debut at London's Copper Box Arena. Cruz defeated Gary Olive in the second round, finishing the bout at the 0:58 mark following a series of left hooks.

Cruz was originally scheduled to face Misfits Boxing heavyweight champion Chase DeMoor. However, DeMoor withdrew from the bout due to an eye injury, leading DeMoor's trainer, Olive, to step in as a replacement.

Following the win, Cruz criticized DeMoor for withdrawing from the scheduled fight, noting that he had lost 100 pounds in preparation for the bout. Cruz used his post-fight interview to issue a direct challenge to DeMoor.