Lightweight contender Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela feels Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz is up there with the best fighters in the light welterweight division after his recent win over WBA champion Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero last month.
Rayo wants to see Cruz (26-2-1, 18 KOs) face IBF 140-lb champion Subriel Matias in a unification fight. That’s one that Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn would also like to see. What I like about Matias vs. Cruz is both of those guys will come to fight, and you see all this running junk.
He promotes Matias, and he’s hoping PBC boss Al Haymon will agree to make the fight. Haymon is careful in the matches he makes involving his fighters, which could be one reason for some of the poor PPV cards that were on Showtime before they stopped broadcasting boxing on their platform.
Comparisons to the Champions
“He’s up there with all those guys. Pitbull looked tremendous. They got to talk about him with everybody. The Haneys, Matias, Teofimo, all those guys are big fights for Pitbull,” said Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela to Fight Hub TV when asked if WBA light welterweight champion Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz compares with the other champions at 140.
Entertainment-wise, Pitbull Cruz is up there with Matias and above Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez. If Matias wins his fight against Liam Paro in June, Hearn would like to put him in with Cruz next. That’s an easier fight to make then one involving Haney. I think he could make negotiations difficult, especially if he’s coming off a win over Ryan Garcia on April 20th.
A victory over Ryan could go to Haney’s head, making him feel he’s the best fighter in the 140-lb division when in reality, he will have only proven that he’s better than Kingry and Regis Prograis.
A Dream Matchup: Cruz vs. Matias
“I think it’s a hell of a fight. I think they should make that fight happen,” said Rayo about a fight between Pitbull Cruz and IBF champion Subriel Matias. “Pitbull is a beast. You’ve got to be tricky with him because he comes at you hard and strong.”
Matias would be a dangerous foe for Pitbull Cruz to deal with if he chooses to slug with him the way he did against Rolly Romero and Gervonta Davis. I think it’ll still be a fun fight.
“After watching [Cruz] completely dismantle and abuse Rolly Romero, he’s actually a good addition. I got Isaac Cruz at #4. A very hot division,” said Chris Algieri to Inside Boxing Live.
