Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz is back in action Saturday night, ready for his first defense of the interim WBC super lightweight championship! He’s facing Nestor Bravo, a once-beaten Puerto Rican contender, in a 12-round main event that promises fireworks. This isn’t just another fight; it’s Cruz’s first time in the ring with his new trainer, Eddy Reynoso. All eyes are on Pechanga Arena in San Diego for this one.
Pitbull’s Massive Challenge and New Partnership
Let’s talk about the main event. Cruz, with a 28-3-2 record and 18 KOs, is making his second defense of the interim WBC super lightweight title. He nabbed the belt with a unanimous decision over Omar Salcido in July, then fought to a controversial draw against Lamont Roach in December. Now, he’s linked up with Eddy Reynoso, and Saturday marks their debut as a team. Bravo, with a 24-1 record and 17 KOs, scored a second-round knockout of Pedro Campa in January. This is the biggest stage of his career, and he’s got momentum. The betting world isn’t giving Bravo much love, though. Cruz is a massive -750 favorite, with Bravo at +470. Does that huge underdog status light a fire under Bravo, or is “Pitbull” just too much to handle?
Title Fights Galore and Undefeated Streaks
But wait, there’s more than just “Pitbull” on this card! The co-feature is an absolute banger: interim WBC middleweight champion Jesus Ramos Jr. takes on undefeated mandatory challenger Meiirim Nursultanov. Ramos, with a 24-1 record and 19 KOs, is making his first title defense after grabbing that interim belt with a unanimous decision over Shane Mosley Jr. in December. Nursultanov, a 33-year-old from Kazakhstan, brings a perfect 20-0 record with 11 KOs to his first world-level title shot. That’s two undefeated streaks on the line! Ramos is favored at -650, with Nursultanov at +420. Plus, undefeated super middleweight Daniel Blancas goes up against Sergio Jimenez. And don’t miss 2024 Olympic silver medalist Marco Verde putting his unblemished pro record on the line against fellow undefeated prospect Guillermo Hernandez. Talk about stacked!
So, mark your calendars for Saturday, September 19th. The full four-fight televised card kicks off at 8 p.m. ET, streaming live on DAZN. You won’t want to miss a second, especially with Cruz and Bravo expected for their main event ring walks around 11 p.m. ET. That time is an estimate, but be ready! Get ready for a night packed with championship boxing, undefeated records on the line, and big KOs. This is gonna be epic!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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