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Roach plans to fight Shakur Stevenson after Pitbull Cruz wins

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Image: Lamont Roach says once he beats Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz, he’s coming straight for Shakur Stevenson — and he wants it at 135

That’s what Lamont Roach says After defeats the interim WBC welterweight champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz on December 6, wants to fight Shakur Stevenson at 140, preferably 135.

Roach (25-1-2, 10 KO) is confident that he will defeat Cruz (28-3-1, 18 KO) in their main event at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.

During Wednesday’s press conference, Lamont towered over the 5-foot-7 Cruz, looking more like a legitimate 140-pounder than a fighter who holds the WBA super featherweight title. Roach will move up from 135 pounds after his last fight against Gervonta Davis on March 1.

Still haunted by Tank

“More people know me because I fought Tank. But more people know me mainly because of what I did, not because they said, ‘Look at him.’ It’s because I’m on this platform and I have the skills to show you all what I can do. And I did it against everyone’s favorite fighter,” said Lamont Roach mediadigging deeper into the past about his last fight against Gervonta Davis.

Roach sounded like a chronically bitter person during Wednesday’s kickoff press conference, talking about his last fight against Tank Davis rather than focusing on the fight ahead of him against “Pitbull” Cruz on December 6.

The way Roach talked about Tanki’s struggle with a vacant look in his eyes was that of someone suffering from Post-Traumatic Emotional Disorder (PTED). They just can’t let go, they’re still trying to understand what happened to them. Roach seems to be stuck on this one event.

Lamont spent three or four minutes talking about Gervonta, not Cruz. I re-watched today’s fight to see why he was so bothered by the result.

After re-watching the fight, I believe Tank Davis was the winner. He hit cleaner, stronger shots all the time. Roach constantly moved forward, landing occasional powerless punches, and then when he was attacked, he used a Shakur-style three-step withdrawal. There was nothing about Roach’s performance that he could be this excited about. The only thing that bothered him was his size. Once hydrated, he had a size advantage over Davis.

Cruz seen as a stepping stone

Roach is treating his fight with Cruz as if victory is already in the bag and is already planning his next fight.

Roach’s next move

“If so, I would like to fight him at 140 pounds. I think it will happen at 135 pounds,” Roach said about wanting to fight Shakur Stevenson after his fight with Teofimo Lopez. “It all depends on what is available after winning this fight [Cruz].

Shakur has already said he is interested in fighting Roach after a title fight against WBO welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez in early 2026.

Roach is not ranked 135, so it looks like Stevenson will continue to freeze his WBC lightweight title. However, this is understandable because Shakur’s No. 1 contender for the WBC belt is Andy Cruz, and he is the guy who can beat him and Roach. He doesn’t rush into fights the way Shakur and Roach do.

Last update: 10/09/2025

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Boxing

Gilberto Ramirez leaves with two fights left

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Image: Gilberto Ramirez Eyes Exit With Only Two Fights Left

“I think one or two more fights,” Ramirez told Fight Hub TV when asked about his long-term plans. “I have been practicing this sport for a long time.”

Ramirez, 33, said that while he still wants to continue his career for now, he is already thinking about how his career will end, not how long it can be extended. Ramirez said he has achieved key goals in the sport, including becoming world champion in two divisions, but still wants to perform at the highest level before he retires.

That pursuit begins with Benavidez, a fight that Ramirez believes will define his status and push his name further to the top of the sport.

“I will beat him. That’s my plan, to fight Opetaia,” said Gilberto about his desire to fight former IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia.

It’s a shoot-for-the-stars plan for Ramirez, but you can’t blame him for wanting to fight Opetaia. The biggest obstacle is not only the fight itself, but also where Jai Opetaia currently sits. Jai is now the face of Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.

At the same time, Ramirez hinted at one last twist before his retirement. When asked about moving up again, he left the door open to a possible heavyweight fight, even admitting that he may not be the biggest fighter in the division.

“Why not?” Ramirez talked about moving up to heavyweight. “That would be amazing.”

If Zurdo loses to Benavidez, his plan for Opetaia will likely evaporate and he may just go straight to the heavyweight event for one last payday before he suspends them.

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Eddie Hearn expects Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2 fight to be canceled and replaced with world title fight

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Eddie Hearn expects Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2 to be cancelled and replaced by world title fight

The final decision may come after the Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao rematch drama ends.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Mayweather and Pacquiao were set to fight professionally more than 10 years after their first meeting, with the event streaming live on Netflix and taking place on September 19 at The Sphere in Las Vegas.

In recent weeks the duel was in doubt, after Mayweather stated that the fight would instead be an exhibition, while Pacquiao continues to insist that it must be a fully sanctioned fight.

Since it is currently unknown whether this will actually come to fruition, this has probably given the clearest signal that this will no longer happen.

Conversation with FightHypepromoter Eddie Hearn said he thinks Netflix can now focus on the WBC welterweight title fight between Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn, essentially replacing the Mayweather-Pacquiao event.

“It’s all a mess. I’m surprised Netflix got into this whole circus… Netflix is ​​modern to boxing, but they need to be a little more solid in the routine because you can’t actually call the fight and it just falls by the wayside and it just doesn’t look great.”

“NO [I don’t believe it will happen]not now. Netflix is ​​only going to do so many fights and the Benn-Garcia fight is now said to be on September 12 or whenever that happens, so obviously this is the fight to replace Mayweather-Pacquiao.

“If it happened Mayweather-Pacquiao, they are committed to that fight, but if it doesn’t happen they will want another fight and from the sound of it it will be Garcia vs. Benn.”

The world title fight between Garcia and Benn has been widely discussed this month, and if Hearn is right, it could spell the end of any hopes of Mayweather and Pacquiao fighting again.

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Junto Nakatani Banking size vs. Naoya Inoue

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Image: Junto Nakatani Banking On Size, Youth Against Naoya Inoue

“I think my size and youth should be a gigantic advantage. It gives me an even better chance to win,” Nakatani told The Ring.

Inoue’s reluctance to make the jump to 126 pounds at featherweight may be the most truthful admission of his physical limitations.

Inoue has fought fighters who hydrated to be hefty, but Nakatani is elevated. At 5’7″ or 5’8″, he has the skeletal leverage of a natural featherweight or super featherweight.

Most of Inoue’s opponents end up with confined time as they have to rush to hit him. Nakatani can theoretically sit outside and throw a punch without putting his chin in the red zone.

The numbers support this belief on paper. Nakatani will enter with a three-inch height advantage, a slight reach advantage and a five-year age difference. He also has natural size from climbing three weight classes, which he plans to exploit for the full distance rather than chasing an early finish.

“This fight will 100% be a war and I think I will win by decision once I overcome everything Inoue throws at me,” Nakatani said.

In his December victory over Sebastian Hernandez, Nakatani was forced into a fierce fight in which both men landed heavily, taking 273 punches in a back-and-forth fight that went the distance. He showed toughness, but also suggested he could get hit when exchanges open up.

It’s not that Inoue is afraid of fighting a bigger opponent, but more that he is a perfectionist who knows that when you lose your physical advantage, you have to rely completely on your endurance. Nakatani is the first fighter in a long time who can actually make Inoue look petite in the ring.

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