Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz is downplaying his recent loss to Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela, viewing him as a runner from their fight last summer on August 3rd in Los Angeles. Rayo, who some have labeled as the ‘Mexican Loma,‘ outboxed Pitbull Cruz (26-3-1, 18 KOs), beating him by a 12-round split decision.
Pitbull Cruz wasn’t interested in attempting to avenge the loss to Rayo because he didn’t want to “waste time” with the lengthy negotiation deal with him running a “Marathon” again.
Listening to Cruz, one could tell that he was still disturbed about his defeat, and it bothered him that Rayo didn’t want to stand in the pocket to slug it out. Rayo used to be a brawler, but after his third-round loss to Edwin De Los Santos on September 4, 2022, he changed his fighting style, adopting the Vasily Lomachenko approach. He’s done an excellent job of mimicking how he fights.
Pitbull Cruz vs. Rayo Valenzuela Punch Stats
– Valenzuela: 171 of 516 for 33%
– Cruz: 118 of 521 for 23%
Unfortunately for Cruz, that style Rayo uses is not uncommon at 140, and he will have to learn how to defeat it to succeed in that weight class. If Cruz doesn’t learn how to deal with slick boxers, he’ll suffer losses to fighters like Richardson Hitchins, Devin Haney, Jack Catterall, and Arnold Barboza Jr.
Cruz, 26, will be returning to the ring in a light welterweight contest against Angel Fierro (22-2-2, 17 KOs) on February 1st on the undercard of David Benavidez vs. David Morrell event on PBC on Prime Video PPV at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Fierro is a pure slugger, and it should be right up Cruz’s alley that he has a dance partner who will stand and fight.
Marathon Man
“There are things I’m looking to change to have some new options in the next fight,” said Isaac Cruz to Fight Hub TV about coming back from his loss to Rayo Valenzuela for his next match against Angel Fierro.
“I don’t want to waste time. It’s a long negotiation because they have their own trouble. I don’t understand, but I don’t want to waste more time,” said ‘Pitbull’ Cruz when asked why he chose not to pursue a rematch with Jose Valenzuela.
“Do you prefer to see real fights or see someone running and doing marathons around the ring?” said Cruz, taking a verbal shot at the slick boxing style that Rayo uses. “You have to make punches. If you’re not making punches, it’s not boxing. We live to punch and fight. We don’t like running. So, I think they [Team Rayo Valenzuela] are working on running rather than on punching.”
The 5’5″ Cruz isn’t going to be able to match the boxing ability of the more skilled fighters at 140, but he can find success if he learns to use these tactics:
- Cut off the ring better
- Fight through the clinch
- Use his jab
- Throw more combinations
“I feel better physically and mentally. I know I’m going to give the public a really good fight [against Fierro on February 1st]. Yes, 140,” said Cruz about what weight his fight with Fierro will be at. I’m comfortable in both of them [lightweight and light welterweight], but now I’m more comfortable to be at 140. “If there’s a good fight at 135, I will fight at 135.”
Life won’t be any easier for Pitbull Cruz if he returns to the lightweight division because the top contenders and champions in that weight class are slick and can punch. He would have problems even against the brawlers at 135, like William Zepeda.
“I don’t care against who. I will ask Sean Gibbons if it’s a good fight, and if I could do well, I will return to 135. 135 with Tank Davis, it’s no problem. If he wants 135, we will go down,” said Cruz.
