Isaac Cruz (28-3-2, 18 KOs) quickly made a name for himself in North American boxing. Known as “Pitbull” for his aggressive style, the 28-year-old delivers thrilling performances whether fighting in Mexico City, Southern California, Las Vegas, or Texas. Wherever Cruz steps into the ring, his passionate fanbase follows closely.
This Saturday, Cruz headlines a bout against Nestor Bravo (24-1, 17 KOs) at San Diego’s Pechanga Arena on DAZN, defending his interim WBC super lightweight title. However, Cruz’s ambitions extend beyond the U.S. borders—he’s eager to take his fighting talents global.
“Why not fight Dalton Smith in England?” Cruz told Uncrowned ahead of his Bravo matchup. Smith, the WBC’s full super lightweight champion, secured the belt with a fifth-round TKO against Subriel Matias in January and is preparing to defend it against Alberto Puello on October 4 in Sheffield. Although Cruz is focused on his immediate opponent, he is confident in beating Bravo and setting up a potential showdown with either Smith or Puello.
“It would be incredible to fight in front of England’s passionate fans, achieve the unexpected by winning the belt there, and bring it back home,” Cruz said.
Leading into this weekend’s fight, Cruz faces a physical challenge: Bravo stands 5 feet 9 inches tall—five inches taller than Cruz—and has fought exclusively at super lightweight, while Cruz has only recently moved up from lightweight. Bravo also comes into the ring with momentum, having scored a second-round knockout over Pedro Campa with a left hook in January, putting him on the radar as a serious contender. Despite this, Bravo is viewed as an underdog but plans to confront Cruz head-on, embracing their similar fighting styles.
After a split decision loss to Jose Valenzuela in 2024, Cruz bounced back with a fight-of-the-year contender victory over Angel Fierro, followed by a win against Omar Salcido and a majority draw against Lamont Roach at the end of 2025.
Seeking to elevate his career, Cruz decided to work with renowned trainer Eddy Reynoso, whose relationship with him began when Cruz was about 21. Reynoso, famously known for guiding Saul “Canelo” Alvarez to fame, also trains fighters like Oscar Valdez, Ryan Garcia, Andy Ruiz, and has even worked with Teofimo Lopez, a potential future opponent for Cruz.
Reynoso’s training philosophy emphasizes discipline, responsibility, perseverance, precise footwork inspired by legends like Willie Pep and Sugar Ray Robinson, effective distance management through coordinated waist and leg movements, and well-synchronized defense.
When asked if Reynoso will try to temper Cruz’s relentless aggression, Cruz acknowledged his own limitations and said, “This is a way for me to grow and adapt. I’ll always be the same aggressive ‘Pitbull’ the fans know and saw succeed against Gervonta Davis and Roach, especially on September 19.”
He added, “I’ll combine the best aspects of his style and mine to secure the win. This marks a new chapter for ‘Pitbull’ Cruz. I’m excited to train with great people and bring good energy to camp. Saturday’s going to be a brutal battle, and I want to prove I deserve to face the winner of Smith vs. Puello or any champion in the division like Teofimo, Ryan Garcia, or Gary Antuanne Russell.”
Fan Take: Isaac Cruz’s rise and his potential leap to global stardom signals an exciting shift in the super lightweight division. His fierce style, combined with Reynoso’s technical mastery, could create electrifying matchups that captivate fight fans worldwide and elevate the sport’s competitive landscape.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
