LAS VEGAS — Isaac Cruz was as surprised as anyone, maybe more so, when Rolando "Rolly" Romero upset Ryan Garcia two months ago.

Cruz figured he would never be the same fighter after the Mexican nicknamed "Pitbull" brutalized him in their fight for Romero's WBA super lightweight title in March 2024. The powerful Cruz battered Romero until referee Thomas Taylor stopped their one-sided championship clash in the eighth round on the Sebastian Fundora-Tim Tszyu undercard in Las Vegas.

North Las Vegas' Romero (17-2, 13 KOs) returned to the ring five months later, when he unanimously outpointed Manuel Jaimes (16-3-1, 11 KOs) in a 10-rounder on the Canelo Alvarez-Edgar Berlanga undercard Sept. 14. Garcia hadn't fought in a year, but DraftKings still listed him as an 11-1 favorite to win their 12-round welterweight match May 2 at Times Square in New York.

A rejuvenated Romero dropped Garcia (24-2, 20 KOs, 1 NC) in the second round, which made him reluctant to engage thereafter, and comfortably won on points in the main event of The Ring's "FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves" pay-per-view show.

Cruz (27-3-1, 18 KOs), who will meet Mexican rival Angel Fierro (23-3-2, 18 KOs) in a 12-round rematch Saturday night at MGM Grand Garden Arena, couldn't believe what he saw that night. In fact, Cruz was surprised Romero fought again.

"I was absolutely stunned that he was able to bounce back the way he did," Cruz told The Ring. "I actually thought he was gonna retire from the ass-kicking that I gave him. But kudos to him for the way he wasn't just able to bounce back, but to do it in the manner he did. I tip my cap to him. It was a very good effort."

Cruz lost the WBA belt he won from Romero in his following fight, a split-decision defeat to Mexican southpaw Jose Valenzuela (14-3, 9 KOs) on Aug. 3 in Los Angeles.

The former champion came back to defeat Fierro by unanimous decision Feb. 1 in one of the best action fights of 2025. They'll fight again on the Manny Pacquiao-Mario Barrios undercard Saturday night.

The 5-foot-4 Cruz has never seriously considered fighting at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds. If he beats Fierro again in their second 140-pound bout, however, Cruz wouldn't rule out a rematch with Romero now that a second bout between them became marketable.

"It would really be something that my team and I would have to sit down, mull and then decide whether we wanna do it or not," Cruz said. "We make decisions as a team all the time, and this wouldn’t be an exception."

Mexico City's Cruz, 27, is a 6-1 favorite to beat Tijuana's Fierro, 26. They'll meet again on a Premier Boxing Champions pay-per-view show that is available via all cable and satellite operators in the United States (8 p.m. ET, $79.99).