Former 140-pound titleholder
Isaac Cruz is looking to run it back against
Angel Fierro following an entertaining brawl and unanimous decision victory against his fellow Mexican countryman.
MP promotions chief and Cruz's manager Sean Gibbons told The Ring he anticipates Cruz (27-3-1, 18 KOs) to return in July or August for a rematch against Fierro (23-3-2, 18 KOs) following their February firefight, featuring a combined 486 punches landed in 10 rounds.
One potential landing spot for the fight could be July 19 in Las Vegas for a PBC show that is set to feature
Manny Pacquiao's return against Mario Barrios and
the rematch between Sebastian Fundora and Tim Tzsyu.
"It's being looked at as the next one," Gibbons told The Ring during an interview. "There is demand for that fight. It was a tremendous fight that everyone loved. Both guys had their moments. It's the kind of fight where you run it back again, just like Gatti-Ward and Barrera-Morales."
The Fierro fight marked the first time Cruz returned to the ring following his split decision defeat against Jose Valenzuela in August. Cruz lost his WBA junior welterweight title in the fight, which he’d won last year by knocking out Rolando Romero.
Properly matching the 5-foot-4 fan-favorite Cruz has become critical at this stage of his career, and Gibbons alluded that "Pitbull" can also campaign as a lightweight again once the ideal opponents become available.
"We're going to re-evaluate everything to see where he really should be, and what's the best look," said Gibbons. "We're also looking at the landscape of what comes out at 135. His best weight is 135, even though he's fighting at 140 pounds right now; weights matter. That's where the real fights are, at 135, against Gervonta Davis, Lamont Roach, and William Zepeda. That's what we're going to try to do moving forward.
"I've come to realize that boxing is really simple. It's about styles. Fans don't care to see someone running around trying to outbox some guy. I'm not mad at those styles, like Shakur Stevenson, who stick, move, and run.
"Maybe Cruz and Fierro aren't the best of the best, but fans know that they’ll get their money's worth. If you put Isaac in correctly, and somebody wants to go toe-to-toe and battle and try to beat him at his game, then so be it. Isaac's game is not a high-speed game of tag. If you want to come to fight, then all the power to you."
Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan.