By Alan Dawson
THE prospective rematch between Isaac Cruz and Gervonta Davis will be prime for 2025.
Thatโs according to โPitbullโ Cruzโs manager Sean Gibbons, who told Boxing News this week that a second fight against โTankโ Davis is likely only a matter of time as his fighter continues to develop a significant fanbase.
The 26-year-old must first dispatch his next opponent Jose Valenzuela, whom he faces Saturday at the 22,000 capacity BMO Stadium in Los Angeles โ the co-main feature to Terence Crawfordโs return to the ring against Israil Madrimov atop the first Riyadh Season event in the United States.
โItโs a monster venue,โ Gibbons told us. โWhen you come to LA, itโs an extension of Mexico.โ
Gibbons said Mexican fight fans turned out in droves to support Cruz in 2021 at the Staples Center when he became one of the few fighters to take โTankโ to a decision, losing by only a slim margin on the scorecards. โItโs Pitbull-mania out here,โ he said.
โYou either have the โItโ factor, or you donโt. And he does. And I believe our fight with Valenzuela will be the real main event.
โItโs the co-feature right now,โ Gibbons told us, โbut thatโs the Mexican Mike Tyson. Everything he throws is with bad intentions. And thatโs the type of fighter people want to watch fight.โ
Victory over Valenzuela, in a fight in which Gibbons sees their opponent bringing a similar Mexican style with plenty of heart, could catapult Cruz into that โTankโ rematch.
โIn 2025 I see us getting that shot,โ said Gibbons.
In recent fights, Davis has only increased his profile as, in his last five bouts, he’s beaten Cruz, Rolando Romero, Hector Luis Garcia, Ryan Garcia, and Frank Martin.
โGervonta is doing his thing, and weโre doing our thing,โ Gibbons told us.
Though there are five months left in the year, itโs unlikely to happen in 2024, said Gibbons. Thatโs because Tank is linked with a return to the ring later in the year against Shakur Stevenson, and Gibbons wants to box Cruz once again in December against a to-be-determined opponent.
But, after that, the pathway may be clear to secure a significant payday against Davis, one of boxingโs faces.
โI really hope in 2025 we can get together.โ