Isaac Cruz vs. Lamont Roach fight: Start time, where to watch, odds
The two boxers best known for giving lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis his toughest professional tests to date will face off Saturday as Mexican star Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz and Lamont Roach Jr. meet in a pay-per-view clash in San Antonio.
The interim WBC junior welterweight title fight will serve as the headline bout of a Premier Boxing Champions card (Prime Video PPV, 8 p.m. ET) from Frost Bank Center. In the co-main event, Stephen Fulton Jr. seeks a third division title shot when he faces WBC junior lightweight champion O’Shaquie Foster.
Cruz (28-3-1, 18 KO), the diminutive slugger from Mexico City, fought Davis on short notice in 2021 and largely built his professional reputation on the strong performance he gave in a close decision loss. Roach (25-1-2, 10 KOs), an amateur rival of Davis from Maryland who still holds the WBA 130-pound title, fought “Tank” to a draw in a lightweight bout in March but was forced to settle for a disputed majority draw.
Davis (30-0-1, 28 KO) initially activated his immediate rematch clause with Roach until he withdrew and instead signed for a November clash with YouTube star Jake Paul. That fight was canceled after Davis, who has a history of legal problems, was named in a civil lawsuit by an ex-girlfriend accusing him of domestic violence.
Cruz, 27, a former 140-pound titleholder, will headline his first PPV card and should have the Texas crowd on his side. But Roach, 30, who will move up in weight for the second consecutive fight, is no stranger to the role of spoiler and enters as the betting favorite for a fight in which both headliners have the opportunity to truly announce themselves as independent stars.
Where to watch Cruz vs. Roach
- Date: Saturday December 6 | Location: Frost Bank Center – San Antonio, TX
- Start time: 8 p.m. ET
- Streaming: Premium Video PPV | Price: $74.99
“I could never have imagined five years ago when I was fighting in San Antonio that I would be here now, but this is the result of my hard work,” Cruz said during Thursday’s final press conference. “I want to continue to progress, develop and do great things. I know what my fans expect from me and I did everything I could in training camp to achieve that.
“I hope [Roach] does not work. It’s all about the fans and they want to see us compete. I’ll be willing to go as long as he can withstand the pressure.”
Many in boxing believe that Roach was robbed of a second title in as many divisions against Davis, not only because of the divisive scorecards, but because of an intentional knee that “Tank” took in the 9th round that was incorrectly ruled a knockdown by referee Steve Willis and would have resulted in an upset victory for Roach. Yet Roach never addressed the controversy, even in the interview immediately following the fight, and remained calm about the experience that motivated him to enter the Cruz fight.
“It’s getting to a point where I’m very accepting. I’ve been through things in life that were similar or worse,” Roach told CBS Sports on Tuesday, reflecting on the Davis fight. “Everything is okay. I know that if I do what I need to do, if I continue on the path I’m on, everything will be okay. I can’t dwell on the past, it doesn’t work that way. It won’t change anything. The only way to get better is to learn and move on.
“I consider it a bump and a bruise in my path. It brought a little light and that’s all I needed. Now we move forward, grow and get better.”
Roach said a win over Cruz could propel him to a number of marquee fights in the 135 and 140 pound divisions. Cruz, meanwhile, believes the winner of Saturday’s fight should draw the winner of the Jan. 31 fight between WBO junior welterweight titleholder Teofimo Lopez Jr. and three-division champion Shakur Stevenson.
In any case, the stakes are high in a fight which promises to be fought at a high pace, mixing technical boxing and two-way skirmishes.
Cruz, whose constant forward pressure gave Davis fits, has a style that virtually guarantees an exciting fight, but he can also box, if necessary. Roach, a natural counterpuncher who will provide a height and reach advantage against Cruz, proved against Davis that he can also stand and exchange in the trenches when needed.
“I’m just excited to show off my skills. Nothing’s changed. We’re here to boogie,” Roach said. “Everyone knows I like to throw. There will be times when the cameras better be ready. He’ll throw missiles in there and I’ll throw them back. We know what kind of fight Pitbull will bring, but we’ll be ready for anything. Anyone who’s watched me knows I can adapt to anything.”
The undercard was scheduled to feature a middleweight title unification between WBC champion Erislandy Lara and WBA and IBF titleholder Janibek Alimkhanuly. However, Alimkhanuly tested positive for melondium, a banned substance during fight week, and was pulled from the fight. In his place is Johan Gonzalez, a veteran of 40 professional fights who is coming off a split decision victory over former junior middleweight titleholder Jarrett Hurd earlier this year. Lara, 42, is enjoying one of the best runs of his career with six straight wins dating back to 2019. His last appearance came in September 2024 when he stopped former champion Danny Garcia in the ninth round.
Below is the full PPV fight card for Saturday night in San Antonio with the latest odds.
Cruz vs. Roach fight card, odds
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
- Lamont Roach Jr. -235 vs. Isaac Cruz (c) +180, interim WBC junior welterweight title
- Stephen Fulton -115 vs. O’Shaquie Foster (c) -110, WBC junior lightweight title
- Erislandy Lara (c) -700 vs. Johan Gonzalez +450, WBC middleweight title
- Jesus Ramos -1400 vs. Shane Mosley Jr. +700, junior middleweight
