Isaac Cruz surprised many when he pushed Gervonta Davis to the limit in their 12-round title fight last year. After that performance, the lightweight division was put on notice and the Mexican fighter is not able to sneak up on potential opponents like he once had. Still, he’s able to dish out the same powerful, thudding shots.
Entering a bout with former champion Yuriorkis Gamboa, Cruz was a clear favorite, but few predicted that he would be as dominant as he was. The former title challenger punished Gamboa to the body for four consecutive rounds, leaving many wondering why the fight was able to continue on into the fifth. Fortunately, referee Mark Calo-oy stepped in as Gamboa was knocked down for the fourth time and stopped the fight.
Having proven that he is a force to be reckoned with in this division, Cruz has been touted as a potential opponent for Ryan Garcia. However, Cruz isn’t so sure about that just yet. After his latest victory, he told Jim Gray that Garcia may have to “wait his turn.”
“I don’t know what to say Isaac cruz other [than] I’m ready now. We have a big fight at hand. I guess [he’s] all Bark [and] no bite,” Garcia tweeted after Cruz was asked about a potential fight.
Regardless of who they may fight next, Cruz and Garcia are expected to return to the ring later this year. Meanwhile, an undisputed title fight down in Australia with George Kambosos and Devin Haney will have major implications for how the second half of the year and the beginning of 2023 at lightweight plays out.
