The proof is in the pudding that the rematch between Isaac Cruz and Angel Fierro needs very little promotion, but don’t tell that to the fighters.

Cruz (27-3-1, 18 KOs) outlasted Fierro (23-3-2, 18 KOs) by decision in a civil war between Mexican warriors in February, and the brutal battle was so beguiling that bombs between the bitter rivals have been scheduled to blow once more on July 19 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Mario Barrios PPV on Prime Video.

Tensions flared between the fiery fighters when they faced off during a press conference, and the banter has continued during pre-fight bulletins. As beef and animosity continue to brew, the conflict is already being billed as the second coming of Arturo Gatti-Micky Ward.

“I promised I would show him that I’m elite and this fight will be more of the same. I have no respect for Pitbull Cruz,” said Fierro. “He doesn’t intimidate me and he’s an ordinary fighter. He’s a human and he gets tired, too. I stayed true to myself when I told him I’m coming for war.”

It’s hard to imagine how Fierro and Cruz can outdo themselves after throwing a combined 1,410 punches. Cruz landed 248 to Fierro's 238.

“At the beginning of the fight, people looked at me like I was a nobody,” said Fierro, who also goes by the nickname Tashiro. “But by the halfway point, I felt a shift, and people were already seeing me as a big-time fighter. I felt like Rocky in Russia. I proved that I’m not just a talker. I’m a true Mexican. We’re two Mexicans with pride on the line and looking to show who the next great Mexican boxing star will be. I’m fighting to bring honor to my country.

“You’re going to see a different Tashiro, and it’s going to be an even better war than the first one. The fans will be on their feet from the very first round. I will beat Pitbull, no matter what. He better prepare well, and I think he will, because deep down he knows what he’s up against.”

The first fight was scheduled for 10 rounds. The sequel is 12.

To prepare for the occasion, Fierro has enlisted Robert Garcia, The Ring’s 2024 Trainer of the Year, to tighten up some technical tactics.

“I didn’t keep my hands up 100% of the time like I needed to. That was the main mistake at the time,” said Fierro. “Pitbull underestimated me — and still does — but I already showed him that I’m not a middling fighter. I proved I’m elite, and now I’m working twice as hard.

“It’s been a tough camp. I’ve never trained with this much intensity before. Robert Garcia and the whole team have been excellent. We’ve made changes to my sparring sessions and I believe we’re going to deliver a great result.

“I’ve worked on myself and corrected the mistakes I made in the first fight that would have changed the outcome. Robert Garcia is very experienced and I watched the fight with him to work on what I need to do to win this time.”