Not too long ago, Isaac Cruz found himself at the center of a match announcement, albeit without his knowledge. What happened was His Excellency Turki Alalshikh put together a 3-match deal involving Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney. The first of which would be fought in May in New York City, followed by a rematch between Garcia and Haney in October, followed by a welterweight title fight in Riyadh in early 2026. The fight in May would be Garcia’s first match after the end of his one-year ban from boxing. And his opponent for the fight? According to reports, both Alalshikh and KingRy were keen to have it against Pitbull Cruz. Garcia had even announced it on X.
However, word soon arrived that Cruz had refused to take the fight. As a result, Garcia’s team decided to move ahead with the former WBA super lightweight champion Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero. But why would anyone refuse to take a fight with Ryan Garcia, one of the most popular boxers of the current generation? At the moment, Issac Cruz is preparing to face Angel Fierro in a matter of a few hours on the undercard of the David Morrell vs. David Benavidez showdown at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. During the last leg of the promotions, Issac Cruz decided to speak his side of the story. What did he say?
The truth behind the Ryan Garcia debacle
In an interview with Fight Hub TV, Isaac Cruz was asked about what went down with the Garcia fight. The boxer was candid about the situation, explaining that he was feeling pressured to sign a deal for the fight with Ryan Garcia without enough time to properly prepare. “Well, they were pressuring us to sign the fight as quickly as possible,” Cruz revealed in Spanish.
He made it clear to Ryan Garcia’s team, that while he was interested in the matchup with the Victorville native, he wasn’t willing to commit before his upcoming fight against Fierro was done with. “I told my promoter, “You know what? Yes, I’m interested, but for now, I want to focus on my fight on February 1st against Fierro.” So, once I secure the victory, we can talk about what comes next.”
However, the Pitbull didn’t stop there. He further mentioned that after his match up he would be ready to face anyone “whether it’s Ryan, Gervonta, or any other name. I have no problem facing anyone as long as I have the proper time to prepare.”
The reporter then asked Issac Cruz if he found it “weird” that Ryan Garcia’s team was rushing him to sign. Pitbull responded with a resounding “Yes.” “They were practically demanding it,” Cruz admitted. He further explained that once he made it clear he wanted to focus on Angel Fierro, they made the decision to go after Rolly Romero instead. “They decided to reach out to Rolly instead, and we didn’t worry about it. That’s why we’re still focused on this fight,” he added.
Further, when asked if he thought Rolly Romero, a fighter he defeated last year, could defeat Ryan Garcia, Issac Cruz remained indifferent. The 26-year-old faced Rolando Romero in March last year and secured a dominant TKO victory. When asked if he wanted to give any advice to Romero, the Mexican star replied, “I can’t really give him any advice because he has his own training plan focused on Ryan, and honestly, it’s a fight that doesn’t concern me at all.”
While Isaac Cruz’s immediate focus is on Fierro, as he said, he isn’t necessarily hesitating to look ahead. For one, he is still hoping for a fight he lost not too long ago.
Isaac Cruz targets Gervonta Davis
Isaac Cruz has already set his sights on a rematch with Gervonta Davis. Days before his fight with Fierro, Cruz publicly made it clear that 2025 would be the year he seeks vengeance for his 2021 loss to Davis. In a video clip, shared by ‘atsboxing’, Pitbull passionately declared, “And I’ll tell you what. We’re gonna be asking for the rematch in the not-too-distant future. I deserve it. I want it. And it’s coming.”
The former WBA Super Lightweight champion remains one of the few fighters to take Davis the full 12 rounds in the past decade. Recently, Davis dismissed a fan’s claim that Isaac Cruz was Tank’s toughest opponent. However, the 26-3, 18 KO boxer has a reputation for bouncing back stronger after losses. Now, with his eyes locked on his fight with Fierro, Cruz is aiming for a shot at redemption. If he wins his fight today, a rematch with Gervonta Davis could very well be on the cards.
Whether it’s in 2025 or sooner, Cruz’s ambition shows no signs of slowing down. What do you think about Isaac Cruz’s decision to pull out of the Garcia fight? How do you see the potential Cruz-Davis rematch playing out? And do you believe Romero has what it takes to upset Ryan Garcia?
The post Issac “Pitbull” Cruz Blows the Whistle on Ryan Garcia’s “Weird” Behaviour That Killed Their Fight appeared first on EssentiallySports.