“Mexican star and former world champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz,” says Premiere Boxing Champions, “and current WBA super featherweight world champion Lamont Roach will fight for the interim WBC super lightweight title.” And so Roach, who was seemingly marginalized after a draw with Gervonta Davis last spring, is once again ready for a sedate fight.
Sure, Roach won’t get a huge payday like he would have gotten in a rematch with Davis, but Davis will next face Jake Paul in a lucrative, novelty fight. Plus, competing against guys like Cruz could have built his reputation almost as much as a draw with Davis. And this sort of thing can lead to increasingly lucrative penalty kicks. However, Roach’s career will not advance if he fails to defeat Cruz.
“I’m used to people talking about their stuff before they get in the ring and then we’ll see what happens,” Ring Magazine quoted Cruz as saying, “All I can say is I’ll show him the same way I showed Rolly… if you talk before the fight, you’ll see in the ring that the bullshit goes away,” Cruz continued. “I’ll come out on top in the end.” The man is called “Pitbull” for a reason.
The thing about Cruz is that this guy has turned the pressure of fighting into something close to an art form. You don’t believe it? Ask Rolly Romero. Roach, on the other hand, is more of a boxer than a knockout artist. However, it should not be underestimated. Many, if not most, believe he should have made a decision on Davis earlier this year. Like Cruz, Roach takes things seriously.
“Taking this fight shows that I’m from the senior school,” WBC quotes Roach as saying. “Cruz is explosive, but I’m ready for anything. If he can’t handle what I bring, it’s going to be a very long night for him” There is no doubt that this man exudes confidence. “I’m in the best shape physically and mentally. Increasing weight is the next step for me. This fight will show what I’m capable of.”
This is an captivating fight that will take place on December 6 in Texas. It’s worth the wait as 2025 comes to an end. Every warrior is unique, hungry and determined, and these are the ingredients of any good fight. The truth is that neither man was expected to do what he did. That in itself is impressive. Seeing them fight, each at their best, will make everything even more impressive
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.
“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.
Mexican boxing legend Erik Morales, who is the same age as Floyd Mayweather, presented his version of the 49-year-old’s expected rematch with Manny Pacquiao.
The two pound-for-pound icons will face off in a professional competition on September 19, headlining the Netflix event at The Sphere in Las Vegas.
However, their second meeting seemed to be in jeopardy after Mayweather stated last month that it would be an exhibition match.
Pacquiao and his team have since stated that it will be a fully sanctioned fight, but we are still waiting for an official announcement.
Their first meeting took place in 2015 and earned Mayweather a unanimous decision victory in an event that quickly became known as the most lucrative boxing event of all time.
But now the 47-year-old hopes to break Mayweather’s 50-0 record after ending his nearly four-year hiatus from professional boxing last July.
But while the Filipino drew with Mario Barrios, the then-WBC welterweight champion, many suggested he and Mayweather shouldn’t be entering the ring at this stage of their lives.
One of them is Morales, who fought Pacquiao three times, winning the first meeting but losing the next two. He told Fight Hub TV that the rematch would be won by the Hall of Famer who turned down the fight the least.
“We’re not at the age to get into fights. But hey, it’ll be intriguing. Whoever arrives the least injured and a little faster, [will win]”
Erik Morales Predicts Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2‼️‼️
“We’re not at the age to get into fights… This will be intriguing. Whoever wins must come to fight less hurt and a little faster!” – Erik Morales
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