Plinio Cruz, best known as Alex Pereira’s longtime coach, translator, and close friend, is stepping into the ring tomorrow at Misfits Boxing. After losing around 30 kg (66 lbs), the 40-year-old is ready to compete again for the first time since 2019. But Cruz is no stranger to fighting. A former professional MMA fighter with an 8-9 record, he competed in organizations such as Bellator and M-1 Global and holds black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and judo. Originally scheduled to face Misfits heavyweight champion Chase DeMoor, Cruz will now take on his coach, Gary Olive, following DeMoor’s withdrawal. After years of standing in Pereira’s corner, it’s finally his turn to step into the spotlight. Can Plinio make a successful comeback?
Plinio Cruz, the longtime coach, translator and close friend of Alex Pereira, returns to competition tomorrow at Misfits Boxing, his first fight since 2019.
Cruz, 40, has dropped around 30 kg (66 lbs) ahead of the comeback. He was originally set to face Misfits heavyweight champion Chase DeMoor, but DeMoor's withdrawal changed the matchup. Cruz will now fight his coach, Gary Olive, instead.
A fighter before he was a corner man
Cruz is best known for his role in Pereira's camp, but he built his own résumé inside the cage. He is a former professional MMA fighter with an 8-9 record who competed in organizations including Bellator and M-1 Global. He also holds black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and judo, giving him a grappling base that few boxing newcomers can match.
Boxing is a different discipline, though, and the Misfits ring will test how much of his combat sports background carries over after a layoff of roughly seven years.
Why it matters
- Cruz returns to competition for the first time since 2019, and the 30 kg weight cut suggests a serious commitment to the comeback.
- The opponent change is notable: a bout with a champion has become a fight against his own coach, Olive.
- For a man who has spent years working Pereira's corner, the fight puts Cruz himself in the spotlight.
The new pairing adds an unusual dynamic to a card that already centered on Cruz's return. Whether he can turn a long-awaited comeback into a win will be settled in the ring tomorrow.
