Esteemed boxing trainer, commentator and analyst, Teddy Atlas, has shared his thoughts on Saturday night’s action, where Isaac Cruz and Lamont Roach Jr fought to a draw in San Antonio, as ‘Pitbull’ retained his WBC Interim super-lightweight title.
Roach has had an intriguing 2025, as the former WBA super-featherweight world champion moved up to lightweight and controversially drew with Gervonta Davis, before a further move up to super-lightweight caused him to be stripped of his 130lb world title.
Against Cruz, ‘The Reaper’ was dropped by the Mexican in the third round but still came away from the contest with a second consecutive draw after 12 hard-fought rounds upon his 140b debut.
On his X account, Atlas, who famously guided Michael Moorer to the heavyweight throne, shared his frustration at the referee’s involvement and that he had Cruz winning the championship rounds on his scorecard.
I picked Cruz to beat and upset Roach at The Ropes & it was close but hated to see Referee impose himself into it. Felt Cruz won the Championship Rds. #cruzvsroachpic.twitter.com/GB7HIT7lTM
— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) December 7, 2025
“I picked Cruz to beat and upset Roach at The Ropes & it was close but hated to see the rferee impose himself into it. Felt Cruz won the Championship Rounds.”
Despite the lack of a victor, the fight was well-received by fans and already there are calls for a rematch, where the winner would likely challenge for the WBC super-lightweight world title late next year.
At present, Puerto Rico’s Subriel Matias is in possession of that belt, but he faces Sheffield’s Dalton Smith in New York in four weeks’ time in an attempted first defence of his second reign as a super-lightweight world champion.
