SAN DIEGO – There’s authenticity, charisma and loaded fists contained in Mexico’s Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz, exactly the characteristics that take a fighter to main-event stature.
Saturday night at Pechanga Arena, Mexico’s WBC interim 140lbs champion Cruz, 28-3-2 (18 KOs), defends his belt against Puerto Rico’s Nestor Bravo, 24-1 (17 KOs), atop the type of DAZN card that could become a routine placement for the former champion pressing for a return.
“He’s always in action fights. He’s can’t-miss TV,” TGB Promotions head Tom Brown said. “You can’t put your finger on what it is, but he has that ‘it’ factor and the people love him – not just Mexican people.”
As the interim champion, Cruz, 28, is first in line to meet the winner of new WBC champion Dalton Smith’s first title defense October 24 in Sheffield, England, versus former champion Alberto Puello, a PBC stablemate of Cruz’s.
“Puello will be bringing that belt back to the states,” Brown assured.
To that end, Cruz replaced his former-fighter father as his head trainer and has expanded himself by consulting this camp with countryman Canelo Alvarez’s cornerman, Eddy Reynoso, to enhance the full camp presided over by Cruz’s uncle, Eduardo.
Coming off an entertaining main-event draw in Texas versus former 130lbs champion Lamont Roach Jnr, Cruz said his “preparation and the way I present myself in the ring… the way that I fight, making sure that the fans are the true winners…that’s the key right there,” to his drawing power.
Cruz won the WBA 140lbs belt by stopping two-division champion Rolly Romero in a 2024 co-main event where he was clearly the fans’ favorite.
A title loss to skilled southpaw Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela later in the year has been followed by three consecutive fights going the distance, bringing him to Puerto Rico’s Bravo, who idolizes his countryman Felix Trinidad.
Cruz knows the Mexico-Puerto Rico history, and relishes that fans with ties to his home country are drawn to him as he sets out to stop Bravo.
“People identify with the dedication, hard work and aggressiveness I have and I’m really appreciative of them, as well,” Cruz said.
“This is the start of a new era for ‘Pitbull’ Cruz.“Fighting during Mexican Independence Month means a lot to me and all of Mexico. That’s why it’s my duty to put on a show and fight with pride on Saturday night.”
Bravo has never been stopped, but he’s also a substantial underdog and the expectation will be for Cruz to finish him and summon a title fight.
“I have to win to go on and face the big names… Bravo is an all-out fighter, and Saturday night is going to be an all-out war where I expect nothing but fireworks for the fans,” Cruz said. “Pressure is a privilege. It only motivates me even more. I want people to think ‘I’m about to see an explosive warrior give his all.’
“Fans are the spark that ignite me to give my all from the very first second of the fight. Now it’s up to me to spark them as well.”
Cruz declined to call out anyone but Bravo, saying he requires “the result”of a victory to take a larger career step.
However, he said he can’t deny what awaits should he execute his plan.
“I’m well aware of the great responsibility I have to this fight and what I’m capable of doing in future fights, as well,” Cruz said.
Bravo expressed confidence he can sabotage Cruz’s come-forward style, pointing to what he accomplished by knocking out Pedro Campa in January.
The fact that “the [pro-Cruz] crowd is not fighting,” eases Bravo’s mind about the arena’s atmosphere. As an Olympian, Bravo routinely won fights against drawing big home-nation crowds.
Cruz assured he knows he must confront the business before him for his intriguing career story to regain its footing.
“This is another chapter in a great rivalry between two boxing-rich nations,” Cruz said. “I guarantee we’re gonna put on a show and write another chapter in this rivalry.”
