Isaac Cruz held on to his WBC interim super-lightweight title against Lamont Roach, and between the two of them — along with Gervonta Davis — each knows exactly what it is like to share a ring with the others.
Cruz and Roach fought to a draw, as did Davis and Roach, while Cruz came up short against Davis when they met in December 2021.
All three could cross paths again in 2026 if Davis returns to the sport, having not fought since his bout with Roach nine months ago.
Cruz, one of boxing’s most all-action fighters, can attest to the power of Roach as well as the more renowned punching force of “Tank” Davis. Speaking to ESPN Knockout, Cruz was asked to compare the two.
“Well, they’re similar.
“He [Roach] does hit hard, but it’s not a punch where you say, ‘Oh no.’ It’s not heartbreaking or out of this world. It’s not that shocking. He did land clean punches, accurate punches, and at no time did he make me feel bad. On the contrary, I went forward instead of backing down.”
As Cruz continued to plough forward, Roach used his counter-punching skills to good effect during their December 6 fight in San Antonio. Roach did take a count in the third round, however, when Cruz cracked him with a left hook that forced his glove to touch the canvas, prompting referee James Green to administer a count.
Davis, meanwhile, is renowned for his precise, heavy hands, which have accounted for 28 of his 30 victories. He, too, faced controversy against Roach when a clear knockdown was ruled a slip by referee Steve Willis. Davis later claimed he had taken a knee because hair product had run into his eyes.
