Lamont Roach says he’s going to defeat WBC interim light welterweight champion Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz “convincingly” in three days in their fight on Amazon Prime Video PPV on December 6th.
KO Talk From a Non-KO Puncher
Roach 25-1-2, 10 KOs) states that he thinks he’ll knock out Cruz (28-3-1, 18 KOs). With a 40% KO rate, Lamont is going to need to sit down on his punches on Saturday for his prediction to come true. He’s never been a puncher during his career, and he’s 30.
Still Haunted by Tank
With three days to go, Roach is still mostly talking about Gervonta Davis in his interviews. In three separate interviews this week, he used up his time talking about the Tank fight.
It’s like he’s still tormented about not getting the victory and then missing out on the rematch. He sounds like a fisherman reliving the memory of a big fish that got away. He can’t stop talking about the Tank fight, and he hasn’t processed it internally yet. Hopefully, Roach still isn’t daydreaming about Davis during the battle on Saturday against Cruz.
Shakur Fantasy Booking
Roach is also talking a lot about how he believes he’ll get a fight against Shakur Stevenson after he defeats Teofimo Lopez. He says that’s the biggest fight at 135. That’s two defensive fighters. It won’t be nearly as interesting as seeing Shakur fight Abdullah Mason or Floyd Schofield.
“I win very convincingly. Pitbull is a tough cookie. Do I think I can stop him? Yes. But if I don’t, don’t be upset with me,” said Lamont Roach to Ariel Helwani’s YouTube channel about his fight against Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz this Saturday night.
Cruz Isn’t Hector Garcia
If Roach slugs with Pitbull Cruz as he did against Hector Luis Garcia and Jamel Herring, he may lose. He barely beat Hector by a razor-close 12-round decision in 2023. The referee gave Roach credit for a rabbit punch knockdown in the 12th round, where he nailed Hector behind the head. He wouldn’t have won the fight without that knockdown.
That performance showed Roach’s limits as a fighter. He also didn’t look good against Jamel Herring in 2019, losing to him.
“I feel like this was the best fight that presented itself, and I’m not a small guy. 140 isn’t too far out of reach,” said Roach when asked why he chose to go up to light welterweight. “Pitbull Cruz is an interim world champion. Once I beat him, I’ll be in line for the 140-lb champion.
“Not at all. I’ve got unfinished business,” said Roach when asked if he’s done with 135.
Roach appears to be talking about his hope that Tank Davis will fight him again. It’s unlikely that he will because he can make more money fighting other fighters at lightweight. He’s not going to waste one of his last remaining fights facing Roach.