Isaac Cruz and Lamont Roach Fight to Controversial Draw in San Antonio: ‘Pitbull’ Expresses Fury with Referee
SAN ANTONIO – Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz and Lamont Roach battled to a highly contested split draw Saturday night at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, in a fight for the interim WBC super lightweight title. The bout was marred by controversy as Cruz vehemently protested the referee’s decisions throughout the 12 rounds, culminating in a post-fight outburst.
The draw – scored 115-113 for Cruz, 115-113 for Roach, and 114-114 - leaves the interim WBC super lightweight championship vacant and sets the stage for potential rematch negotiations. The fight was widely considered a crucial step for both fighters, with a victory propelling either Cruz or Roach into a mandatory title challenge against current WBC champion Devin Haney.
Earlier in the evening, Erislandy Lara secured a clear unanimous decision victory in his fourth defense of the WBA middleweight world title against Johan González. Lara dominated the fight, even scoring a knockdown of González in the first round. Jesús Ramos Jr. also won by unanimous decision over Shane Mosley Jr. to claim the WBC interim middleweight title, improving his record to 24-1.O’Shaquie Foster defeated Stephen Fulton by unanimous decision in 12 rounds for the WBC interim lightweight title.
The main event saw a fast-paced,back-and-forth affair with both fighters landing meaningful blows. Cruz, known for his aggressive pressure, consistently walked Roach down, while Roach utilized his speed and counter-punching ability to create openings.Cruz repeatedly voiced his displeasure with the referee’s interventions, arguing that Roach was receiving preferential treatment regarding holding and inside fighting.
“it was a robbery!” Cruz exclaimed after the decision was announced, visibly frustrated. “The referee didn’t let me work inside. He was always breaking us up when I was landing.”
The fight was available on Prime Video PPV in the United States and Disney+ in Latin America, with a delayed broadcast on TV Azteca in Mexico.
