Lamont Roach Jr. vs. Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz
Lamont Roach Jr., the current WBA junior lightweight champion, is set to step up in weight class to challenge Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz for the interim WBC junior welterweight title on December 6. This highly anticipated bout will take place at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio and will be featured as the main event of a Premier Boxing Champions pay-per-view presented on Prime Video, as announced by ESPN.
Background and Motivation
Roach (25 wins, 1 loss, 2 draws, with 10 knockouts) has decided to pursue this match after a planned rematch with Gervonta “Tank” Davis in August fell through. Following this, Davis is scheduled to face Jake Paul in an exhibition match in November, prompting Roach to take action rather than wait for the outcome of that fight. Their initial confrontation ended in a disputed majority draw in March.
Cruz’s Recent Performance
On the other hand, Cruz (28 wins, 3 losses, 1 draw, with 18 knockouts) is looking to capitalize on this opportunity after narrowly losing to Davis in December 2021. Since that bout, Cruz has claimed victory in six of his last seven fights, most notably winning the vacant WBC junior welterweight title against Omar Salcido in July.
Significance of the Fight
Cruz’s team views this match as a pivotal moment for the fighter from Mexico City, with his manager, Sean Gibbons, emphasizing its significance. He stated that this fight represents a crucial opportunity for Cruz to emerge as Mexico’s next boxing star, especially in the wake of Canelo Alvarez’s recent defeat to Terence Crawford.
There’s a growing expectation in Mexico for a new champion to arise, particularly looking forward to upcoming events like Mexican Independence Day and Cinco De Mayo celebrations. Gibbons expressed hope that success in this showdown could propel Cruz into that spotlight.
