Every fighter’s career will experience a pivotal moment that marks a significant change, whether it be a win or a defeat.
When the moment arrives to reflect on their most significant moments in the ring, they will desire to share tales of triumph and grandeur, rather than recounting remorseful memories of being remembered as the almost a champion.
Isaac Cruz, 25-2-1 (17), is now into his 10th year as a pro. A blip in his sixth fight losing to Luis Montano Alvarez over eight rounds was a lesson for Cruz about discipline, commitment, and improvement.
However, his journey persisted and the Mexican fighter’s career skyrocketed in the United States as he skillfully employed his pressure tactics to defeat Thomas Mattice in 2020. This impressive victory was soon followed by an awe-inspiring display against Diego Magdaleno, resulting in a lightning-fast 53-second finish. The momentum carried into 2021 with a physically demanding triumph against the seasoned veteran Francisco Vargas.
Later in the same year, Pitbull Cruz found himself up against the rising star Gervonta “Tank” Davis. This bout was set to be a pivotal moment in Cruz’s lightweight career, taking place in front of a roaring crowd of over 15,000 fans at the Stapes Centre in Los Angeles. The determined fighter from Mexico City utilized his power and relentless attacks to give Davis the most challenging fight he had experienced thus far, bringing an end to the Baltimore boxer’s impressive 16-fight knockout streak. Although Cruz unfortunately fell short, losing by unanimous decision, his standing and credibility in the boxing world had undeniably risen.
Cruz has made a comeback in the world title scene after twenty-five months, and his first fight in the super-lightweight division will be for the WBA’s 140lbs world title against Rolando Romero. This match serves as the main undercard for Tim Tszyu vs. Sebastian Fundora, marking Amazon Prime’s debut as the broadcast partner for Premier Boxing Champions.
To this day, Cruz is most remembered by fans for his outstanding performance against Davis, despite losing the match. His display surpassed Romero’s efforts, who also lost to Davis in 2022, as well as Ryan Garcia’s defeat in his recent super-fight against Davis last April.
“I’m focused on March 30 but it’s impossible to have people forget about the Gervonta Davis [fight] because they want to see a rematch,” Cruz told Boxing News.
Becoming a world champion increases my chances of securing a rematch, but for now, my focus is on March 30 and winning that match first.
Rolando Romero, with a record of 15 wins and 1 loss, has consistently attempted to provoke Cruz with his unique style of trash talking. The 28-year-old secured his championship title 10 months ago in a lackluster performance against Ismael Barroso, a veteran in the lightweight division. The peculiar ninth-round stoppage occurred when referee Tony Weeks called off the fight despite minimal, if any, punches connecting with the Colombian.
BN asked Cruz that regardless of his low opinion of Romero does he think his opponent is a good fighter.
“I hold respect for everyone, and he has earned the title of champion for a reason. That’s the extent of my comment on the matter.”
Moving on, then…
On March 19 of this year, Cruz celebrated the ninth anniversary of his professional debut, which happened when he was only 16. His journey commenced with a remarkable one-round knockout win over Luis Yan Revilla, and ever since then, he has described the time that has passed as nothing short of “amazing”.
We have experienced nine incredible years filled with growth and accomplishment. Though there were also nine challenging years, we have extracted the most valuable lessons from those tough times. As a result, I have evolved into a stronger individual and a more skilled fighter.
He expressed, “To win the world title would truly be a dream realized. It would signify the culmination of countless years of hard work and would be a result of seizing the opportunity that took so long to arrive. Above all, it would validate all the efforts and aspirations I have relentlessly pursued throughout my career.”
Cruz cannot fathom the idea of losing to Romero. After coming so far, he refuses to let someone he holds in contempt defeat him. Winning his first significant championship would be a monumental achievement, but his chances of securing a lucrative rematch with Gervonta Davis would be completely destroyed if he fails to defeat “Rolly” on Saturday night.
Cruz expressed his belief that the possibility would result in a significant letdown.
“I am essentially discarding all of my accomplishments and efforts from nine years of my career. Additionally, the three months of preparation I have put in will be completely wasted. I am determined to prevent this from occurring.”
