Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz will welcome Lamont Roach to the super lightweight division.
The former Gervonta “Tank” Davis opponents will square off for the WBC interim title on Dec. 6 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, Premier Boxing Champions confirmed Thursday to ESPN. Cruz vs. Roach will headline a PBC pay-per-view event on Amazon Prime Video.
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Roach (25-1-2, 10 KOs) is the current WBA super featherweight champion. He claimed the title with a split decision win over Hector Luis Garcia in November 2023. Roach moved up to challenge Davis for his WBA lightweight crown in March, where he was forced to settle for a majority decision draw amid controversy.
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In Round 9 of the contest, Davis dropped to one knee, seconds after being hit with a left hand from Roach. Veteran referee Steve Willis began to administer a 10-count but then inexplicably stopped as Davis went back to his corner to wipe his eye. “Tank” later explained that grease from his braids was bothering him; however, the rules of boxing are clear in not allowing fighters to call their own timeouts, thus Davis’ impromptu kneel-down should’ve been counted as a knockdown — and if it was called a knockdown, Roach would’ve emerged victorious on the scorecards.
Roach will now jump up yet another division to face Cruz.
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Mexico’s Cruz (28-3-1, 18 KOs) also extended Davis the 12-round distance, losing a close decision in December 2021. Cruz stopped Rolando “Rolly” Romero, the current WBA welterweight champion, to win the WBA super lightweight title in March 2024, but then lost the belt to Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela in his next fight. Cruz has picked up two wins since that defeat and now fights for a third time in 2025 against Roach.
Subriel Matias defends the full WBC super lightweight title against Dalton Smith on Jan. 10 in New York. The Cruz vs. Roach winner would, theoretically at least, be in line for a shot at the Matias vs. Smith winner.