BTN News: Mexican boxer Isaac Cruz (26-3-1, 18 KOs) lost his WBA super lightweight title to José “Rayo” Valenzuela. This fight happened on Saturday night at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. It was part of a big event headlined by Terence Crawford against Israil Madrimov. The judges scored the fight 116-112 twice and 115-1134 in favor of Valenzuela. This was a big win for Valenzuela, who comes from Los Mochis, Sinaloa.
Valenzuela kept his distance and used his jab well to stay out of trouble. Even though he took some heavy punches from Cruz, he managed to avoid major damage. Cruz, who has been loved by fans since his great fight against Gervonta Davis in December 2021, was upset about the decision. “The judge is the best audience,” Cruz said, noting that the crowd was unhappy with the result. “I never took it easy, I came to fight my best. I don’t know what one judge saw.”
Cruz had strong first rounds, landing many punches on Valenzuela. Valenzuela, trained by the experienced Robert García for this fight, was careful to avoid Cruz’s right hook. But he still got hit by several straight punches. The seventh round was the most exciting, with both fighters trading punches. In the eighth round, Cruz hit Valenzuela hard in the face, which was the strongest punch of the fight up to that point. This made Valenzuela step back, but his smart defense stopped Cruz many times.
The last round was crucial for Valenzuela. He landed a straight punch and a hard uppercut to Cruz’s chin. This made two judges see him as the winner. Valenzuela moved up to 140 pounds for this chance and stayed calm throughout the fight. “I can’t talk, it’s a dream,” Valenzuela said after winning, even though the crowd booed him. “He is very smart. I didn’t get desperate, I stayed calm.”
Cruz’s aggressive style has won him many fans, earning him the nickname “Pitbull.” But this time, he met an opponent who used his weaknesses against him. This fight is important for Valenzuela’s career. He hopes to build on this win and make a name for himself in the super lightweight division.
In another fight on the same night, former heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz fought Jarrell Miller to a draw. Ruiz injured his hand in the fifth round, which affected his performance. The event at BMO Stadium was the first boxing show in the U.S. by Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season. It was a night full of exciting fights.
Despite losing, Isaac Cruz has a bright future in the division. Fans can expect to see him come back strong. Meanwhile, José “Rayo” Valenzuela’s win shows he is ready for more big fights in the super lightweight division. This fight could be the start of many exciting matches for both fighters in the future.
