Isaac Cruz
“Pitbull”RECORD
26 - 3 - 1
KOs
18
WBA Super Lightweight World Champion and Mexican superstar Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz is one of the most ferocious fighters in boxing, terrorizing opponents with his tenacity and fearsome two-fisted power--not unlike an "Iron" Mike Tyson years ago. Read Bio
Last Fight
Loss vs Jose Valenzuela
Aug 03, 2024 / BMO Stadium, Los Angeles, California, USA
Isaac Cruz LOSES to Jose Valenzuela by SD in Round 12 of 12
Videos
Latest News
Isaac Cruz News
The Aftermath: Tszyu-Fundora, Rolly vs. Pitbull and More
Michael Rosenthal takes a look back at an epic night of action last weekend from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Fundora Edges Tszyu In A Bloody War To Capture Two World Titles
Fundora and Tszyu cap off a thrilling night of action with a tense back and forth battle that ended with a career-defining win for Fundora Saturday night.
Tszyu vs. Fundora, Rolly vs. Pitbull: Primed for Battle
Four World Title bouts and nonstop action awaits as Premier Boxing Champions presents its inaugural Prime Video event tonight from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Fights
Isaac Cruz Fights
Loss vs Jose Valenzuela 14-2-0
Aug 03, 2024 • BMO Stadium, Los Angeles, California, USA
Isaac Cruz LOSES to Jose Valenzuela by SD in Round 12 of 12
WIN vs Rolando Romero 16-2-0
Mar 30, 2024 • T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
Rolando Romero LOSES to Isaac Cruz by TKO in Round 8 of 12
Win vs Giovanni Cabrera 21-0-0
Jul 29, 2023 • T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
Isaac Cruz WINS against Giovanni Cabrera by SD in Round 12 of 12
Win vs Eduardo Ramirez 28-4-3
Sep 04, 2022 • Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
Isaac Cruz WINS against Eduardo Ramirez by KO in Round 2 of 12
Win vs Yuriorkis Gamboa 30-5-0
Apr 16, 2022 • AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Isaac Cruz WINS against Yuriorkis Gamboa by TKO in Round 5 of 10
LOSS vs Gervonta Davis 30-0-0
Dec 05, 2021 • Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Gervonta Davis WINS against Isaac Cruz by UD in Round 12 of 12
Win vs Francisco Vargas 27-3-2
Jun 19, 2021 • Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
Isaac Cruz WINS against Francisco Vargas by UD in Round 10 of 10
Win vs Jose Matias Romero 24-0-0
Mar 13, 2021 • Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut
Isaac Cruz WINS against Jose Matias Romero by UD in Round 12 of 12
Win vs Diego Magdaleno 32-4-0
Oct 31, 2020 • Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
Isaac Cruz WINS against Diego Magdaleno by KO in Round 1 of 12
WIN vs Thomas Mattice 15-1-1
Feb 14, 2020 • 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Thomas Mattice LOSES to Isaac Cruz by MD in Round 10 of 10
Win vs Miguel Angel Perez Aispuro 12-9-2
Dec 07, 2019 • Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Isaac Cruz WINS against Miguel Angel Perez Aispuro by UD in Round 8 of 8
Win vs Eleazar Valenzuela Carrillo 18-10-4
Feb 16, 2019 • Plaza de Toros La Coleta, San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico
Isaac Cruz WINS against Eleazar Valenzuela Carrillo by KO in Round 1 of 10
Win vs Jose Felix 37-3-1
Nov 10, 2018 • Lienzo Charro Hermanos Ramírez, Corregidora, Queretaro, Mexico
Isaac Cruz WINS against Jose Felix by TKO in Round 3 of 8
Win vs Jose Angel Flores Chan 5-2-1
Oct 06, 2018 • Arena Coliseo, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Isaac Cruz WINS against Jose Angel Flores Chan by KO in Round 1 of 8
Win vs Heberto Persico 9-10-0
Jun 16, 2018 • Auditorio Centenario, Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico
Isaac Cruz WINS against Heberto Persico by UD in Round 8 of 8
Win vs Juan Jose Martinez 26-5-0
Feb 17, 2018 • Arena Coliseo, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Isaac Cruz WINS against Juan Jose Martinez by RTD in Round 5 of 8
Win vs Juan Jose Martinez Alvarez 26-5-0
Feb 17, 2018 • Arena Coliseo, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Isaac Cruz WINS against Juan Jose Martinez Alvarez by RTD in Round 5 of 8
Win vs Ricardo Juan Saenz 0-1-0
Nov 11, 2017 • Palenque INFORUM, Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
Isaac Cruz WINS against Ricardo Juan Saenz by TKO in Round 2 of 6
Draw vs Jose Calyecac Capilla 5-2-0
Sep 30, 2017 • Centro Regional de Deporte de Las Américas, Ecatepec, México, Mexico
Isaac Cruz DRAWS with Jose Calyecac Capilla by PTS in Round 6 of 6
Win vs Dunis Linan 24-34-4
Jul 01, 2017 • Auditorio Centenario, Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico
Isaac Cruz WINS against Dunis Linan by TKO in Round 7 of 8
Win vs Ivan Basurto Monroy 4-1-0
Apr 22, 2017 • Unidad Deportiva Martín Alarcón, Metepec, México, Mexico
Isaac Cruz WINS against Ivan Basurto Monroy by TKO in Round 3 of 6
Win vs Raul Hinojosa Orozco 12-7-1
Dec 03, 2016 • Centro de Convenciones, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Isaac Cruz WINS against Raul Hinojosa Orozco by TKO in Round 6 of 8
Win vs Daniel Evangelista Jr 19-6-2
Oct 22, 2016 • Arena Coliseo, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Isaac Cruz WINS against Daniel Evangelista Jr by TKO in Round 3 of 6
Win vs Carlos Marcelino Santiago 7-0-0
Aug 27, 2016 • Arena Coliseo, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Isaac Cruz WINS against Carlos Marcelino Santiago by KO in Round 1 of 6
Win vs Italo Ortiz 2-1-1
Apr 02, 2016 • Centro de Convenciones, Tlalnepantla, México, Mexico
Isaac Cruz WINS against Italo Ortiz by TKO in Round 1 of 6
LOSS vs Luis Montano Alvarez 9-5-0
Feb 06, 2016 • Arena Coliseo, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Luis Montano Alvarez WINS against Isaac Cruz by UD in Round 8 of 8
LOSS vs Luis Miguel Montano 8-5-0
Feb 06, 2016 • Arena Coliseo, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Luis Miguel Montano WINS against Isaac Cruz by UD in Round 8 of 8
Win vs Francisco Valadez 1-4-1
Sep 05, 2015 • Centro de Espectáculos del Recinto Ferial, Metepec, México, Mexico
Isaac Cruz WINS against Francisco Valadez by MD in Round 6 of 6
Win vs Rafael Lopez Garcia 1-0-0
Aug 08, 2015 • Arena Coliseo, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Isaac Cruz WINS against Rafael Lopez Garcia by KO in Round 1 of 0
Win vs Jose Eduardo Zamudio 1-3-0
Jun 27, 2015 • Centro Civico de Ecatepec, Ecatepec, México, Mexico
Isaac Cruz WINS against Jose Eduardo Zamudio by TKO in Round 3 of 4
Win vs Brandon Gonzalez 1-0-0
May 23, 2015 • Centro de Espectáculos del Recinto Ferial, Metepec, México, Mexico
Isaac Cruz WINS against Brandon Gonzalez by SD in Round 4 of 4
Win vs Luis Yan Revilla 1-0-0
Mar 14, 2015 • Auditorio Municipal, Naucalpan, México, Mexico
Isaac Cruz WINS against Luis Yan Revilla by KO in Round 1 of 4
Stats
Isaac Cruz “Pitbull”
- WINS 26
- LOSSES 3
- DRAWS 1
- KOs 18
Weight 134.25 lbs (60.91 kg)
Height 5'4" (1.63 m)
Reach 63" (160 cm)
-
Born
May 23, 1998 -
Age
26 -
Country
Mexico -
Born in
Mexico City, Distrito Federal -
Trains in
Mexico City, Distrito Federal
-
Stance
-
Rounds Boxed
160 -
KO Percentage
69.23% -
Boxing Hero
Fighter data provided by BoxRec Ltd. View disclaimer
Isaac Cruz Bio
WBA Super Lightweight World Champion and Mexican superstar Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz is one of the most ferocious fighters in boxing, terrorizing opponents with his tenacity and fearsome two-fisted power--not unlike an "Iron" Mike Tyson years ago.
A Family Of Fighters
A third-generation fighter out of Mexico City, Mexico, Isaac Jonathan Cruz Gonzalez embraced the family legacy at an early age.
"My childhood was in Magdalena Contreras in Mexico City. I grew up with my parents separated, so I was living with my mother and I played in the street freely and safely with my brother and the neighbors," said Cruz.
"But my grandfather was a fighter and my father was a fighter. I started training at the age of seven. The reason is because I did not want to be just another number or a statistic. From the start, I wanted to be someone who shined brightly above the rest."
Cruz won 73 of 85 amateur bouts with 50 knockouts. He was the Mexico City champion from 2010-2014, a regional champion from 2011-20014 and participated in three Olympic trials.
A 16-year-old Cruz debuted in March 2015 with a 90-second stoppage of Luis Yan Revilla, who represented his first of five victories, three of which were by knockout.
Cruz went 4-1 (4 KOs) in 2016, rebounding from a unanimous decision loss to Luis Miguel Montano in February with four straight knockout wins.
"I was very happy to win my professional debut and to know what I wanted in professional boxing,” said Cruz. “I felt very excited to defeat four strong, undefeated opponents at the beginning of my career. The lesson that my defeat left me was that you have to be disciplined, committed and improve during each training session,”
Nicknamed "The Pitbull" for his all-action approach, Cruz stopped Ivan Basurto in April 2017, then finished Dunis Linan in three rounds that July, before battling to a six-round draw with Jose Calyecac in September. That November, he stopped Ricardo Juan Saenz.
"I'm 'The Pitbull.' I got the name thanks to my imposing physique and aggressive, forceful fighting style,” said Cruz, who improved to 12-1-1 (10 KOs). “My [boxing idols] are Mike Tyson, Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, and I've learned to be more constant like they were in my workouts and to correct my technical errors."
On The Rise
"The Pitbull" stopped three of four opponents in 2018, including a third-round TKO over former world title challenger Jose Felix Jr., who entered at 36-3-1 (28 KOs).
Cruz followed with two more victories in 2019, a first-round knockout of Eleazar Valenzuela in February, and an eight-round unanimous decision over Miguel Angel Perez Aispuro in December.
Cruz had fought exclusively in Mexico before facing Aispuro in his American debut at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Aispuro was followed in February 2020 by Cruz’s 10-round majority decision win over the respected Thomas Mattice in Philadelphia.
“Fighting in Brooklyn was very different from fighting in Mexico. Everything from the hand wrapping, to the commission to the medicals. That experience of fighting in the U.S. will help me both physically and emotionally," said Cruz, who improved to 19-1-1 (14 KOs.)
"The Felix fight was a great, satisfactory and emotional victory. I was confident in my physical and mental capacities and my ability to defeat any elite fighter. Against Mattice, I showed all the connoisseurs of boxing that I don't get tired, know how to go the distance if I don't get an early knockout, and can continue to throw effective punches throughout the entire fight."
Cruz made his intentions known in advance of his most difficult challenge in two-time world title challenger Diego Magdaleno at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, on Halloween 2020.
“I'm 'The Pitbull.’ I really like to attack, always coming forward and fighting the same no matter who I’m facing,” said Cruz. “I am preparing physically and mentally and above all technically to face Diego Magdaleno. If it is a victory by knockout, that's even better.”
Cruz won by two-knockdown, 53-second stoppage of Magdaleno (32-3, 13 KOs), whom he floored 20 seconds in with a right uppercut before decking him for good with consecutive uppercuts.
Cruz followed up his destruction of Magdaleno with two lopsided wins, a 12-round unanimous decision over Jose Romero in March 2021, then a 10-round unanimous decision over Francisco Vargas on June 19, 2021.
The impressive run set Cruz up for a mega-bout versus boxing superstar and five-time world champion Gervonta "Tank" Davis. The two squared off for Davis' WBA World Lightweight Title on Sunday, December 5, 2021, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, live on SHOWTIME pay-per-view.
Davis would win a unanimous decision but Cruz impressed, winning over the crowd with his hard-charging style and "take no prisoners" attitude.
Scorecards read 116-112 and two scores of 115-113, all for Davis.
“Viva Mexico. I have nothing to say, the fans are speaking on who won this fight,” Cruz said.
Cruz returned on April 16, 2022, with a vicious fifth-round stoppage of former world champion Yuriorkis Gamboa at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, live on SHOWTIME pay-per-view.
ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT REEL KO
On September 4, 2022, Cruz took on fellow Mexican Eduardo Ramirez in the co-feature to the Andy Ruiz-Luis Ortiz main event on FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Cruz (24-2-1, 17 KOs) delivered yet another a highlight-reel knockout, stopping Ramirez in the second round.
"I was ready to win at all costs, for my family and what better way to win than here in front of all the great fans in Los Angeles,” said Cruz.”
Midway through round two, Davis showed the fight-changing power that he possesses and that has helped make him a fan favorite in Los Angeles and beyond. Cruz first connected flush with a big left hook around a Ramirez jab that sent Ramirez to the mat hard.
While Ramirez was able to get to his feet, Cruz pushed forward, sensing his moment to end the fight. Using a feint right hand, Ramirez caught Cruz cleanly with another left hook and followed up with a powerful right hand to score a second knockdown. This time referee Jack Reiss jumped in immediately and halt the bout 2:27 into the round.
In his post-fight interview with FOX Sports’ Heidi Androl, Cruz declared his intention to rematch WBA Lightweight Champion Gervonta Davis, who was seated ringside.
"We want the rematch with Gervonta Davis,” said Cruz. “That's what these fans want. I promised the knockout tonight and we got it done.”
On July 29, 2023, Cruz was back in the ring in a WBC/WBA World Lightweight Title Eliminator against Giovanni Cabrera as the co-main event to the Errol Spence-Terence Crawford SHOWTIME PPV. Cruz (25-2-1, 17 KOs) was the aggressor throughout, edging the unbeaten Cabrera (21-1, 7 KOs) via split decision. He was deducted a point in round eight due to headbutts yet won the bout with scores of 115-112 and 114-113, with one judge scoring the action 114-113 for Cabrera.
“I was superior tonight, but I do respect all of my opponents, and he was very good today,” said Cruz. “I was frustrated a little. He thought it was my birthday because he was hugging me all night.”
The typically aggressive Cruz started patiently as the southpaw Cabrera used his height and jab to try to keep Cruz from getting into position to land his power shots across the early action. Cruz began to find his offense in rounds three through six, landing numerous strong hooks, including a counter left that gave Cabrera problems time and time again.
Cruz held a significant edge in power punches landed (152-55) and was the more accurate fighter overall by landing 31% of his shots compared to 13.5% from Cabrera.
Mexico's Next Great Champion?
On March 30, 2024, Cruz challenged for the world title against WBA 140-pound world champion Rolando "Rolly" Romero in the inaugural PBC Pay-Per-View on Prime Video at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Romero was his usual chatty self in the build-up to the fight, trash talking Cruz and promising a KO.
Cruz did his talking in the ring as he wrestled away the World Championship from Romero with an eighth-round TKO triumph.
"I'm very happy and humbled to win this title for my family and for Mexico,” said Cruz. "I was prepared for this. I wasn't here to just fight. I was here to terminate him...I did my talking right here in the ring. And I did this not just for me, but for everybody that is here at T-Mobile Arena. There's going to be a Mexican champ at 140 pounds for a long time.”
After enduring pre-fight trash talk from Romero, it was Cruz who established his dominance early, connecting with a left hook to the top of the head that wobbled Romero badly in round one. Although Romero steadied himself and valiantly survived the round, he was never able to shake Cruz with his own power.
Romero was able to show enough movement and ring savvy to push the fight into the second half. He also attempted to strategically hold and keep Cruz off of him, but was deducted a point in round five for excessively holding. Despite these efforts, he was once again hurt late in round seven, this time from an onslaught that began with a straight right hand to the head.
“I fought with the intention to leave the decision out of the judges’ hands,” said Cruz. “Mission accomplished.”
Romero again showed his mettle by making it to the bell, but early in round eight was met with another onslaught of power punches from the hard-charging Cruz. This time, the barrage was enough to force referee Thomas Taylor to waive off the fight 59 seconds into the round. Cruz’s dominance was reflected in the punch stats as he out landed (129-85) and was more accurate (36% to 25%) than Romero.
"I am not here just to be a dangerous fighter,” said Cruz. “I now have a title that is backing me up. So anybody that is available, I'll be ready."