PBC on Prime Video results, highlights: Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz batters Rolando Romero to earn WBA title
Rolando “Rolly” Romero entered his fight with Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz on Saturday night, considered by many to be boxing's weakest world champion. Cruz took advantage of Romero's technical deficiencies to score a TKO in the eighth round of their fight on the Tim Tszyu vs. Sebastian Fundora to win the WBA junior welterweight championship.
It didn't take long for Cruz to break Romero's defense, landing a hard left hook to the temple in the first round that sent Romero stumbling around the ring on rubber legs. Somehow, Romero managed to not only survive the frame but also avoid a fall.
Cruz continued to navigate his height disadvantage by sliding inside Romero's looping shots to score with powerful blows to both the head and body. When Romero managed to land punches, he quickly ran into harsh counterattacks from Cruz, who refused to stay out of Romero's reach.
Romero attempted to quell Cruz's constant forward momentum by circling the perimeter of the ring and holding on as Cruz effectively closed the distance. That approach cost Romero in Round 5, when repeated grabbing of him led to a points deduction after multiple warnings.
Romero was seriously injured again in the seventh round. He again managed to survive the round and stay on his feet, but it was clear that the fight was quickly slipping away from him as he couldn't hurt Cruz or keep the shorter man at bay.
Cruz did not stop the attack in the next round. After the ringside doctor gave Romero a check-up and told him the fight was very close to over, Cruz continued to attack and after a large flurry took Romero's legs again, the referee intervened to stop the fight in the 0:56 mark. of Round 8.
“I am very happy and honored to win this title for my family and for Mexico,” Cruz said after the victory. “I was prepared for this. I wasn't here just to fight. I was here to finish him off… I spoke right here in the ring. And I did this not only for myself, but for everyone here. “In the T- Mobile Arena. “There is going to be a Mexican champion at 140 pounds for a long time.”
Cruz has been seeking a rematch with Gervonta “Tank” Davis after losing a competitive fight in December 2021. With a victory cementing Cruz as world champion for the first time in his career, that dream rematch is closer than ever.
Romero was making the first defense of his title, which he won controversially after being knocked down by Ismael Barroso in May 2023 before a very quick referee stoppage in the ninth round of the fight. That fight came one fight after being knocked out by Gervonta Davis in their highly anticipated 2022 fight.
“I'm not here just to be a dangerous fighter,” Cruz said. “Now I have a title behind me. So whoever is available, I'll be ready.”
