It was fitting that there was little separation between the only two fighters to push Gervonta Davis to the brink.
Isaac Cruz and Lamont Roach Jnr separately called for rematches with the unbeaten WBA 135lbs titlist – Cruz after his narrow December 2021 defeat; and Roach following his disputed majority draw with “Tank” this past March 1 in Brooklyn, New York.
Neither were able to get their wish. It was more painful for Roach, who was promised a sequel with Davis in August, only for the Baltimore-bred southpaw to pull the plug on those plans.
Cruz, 28-2-2 (18 KOs) made himself available in the situation, welcoming Roach – now a former WBA 130lbs titlist – to the junior welterweight division. The two fought to a contentious majority draw this past Saturday at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio.
Naturally, the post-fight conversation immediately shifted to the idea of running it back. Roach, 25-1-3 (10 KOs) was all for it; so, too, was his charismatic rival, who couldn’t help but take a shot at their common opponent.
“Do the fans want a rematch,” Cruz rhetorically asked while fielding the question during their post-fight press conference. “I’m not Gervonta Davis; I want a rematch right away.”
The swipe drew a hearty laugh from Roach, who remained cordial with Cruz in the aftermath even as they disagreed on a number of topics in relation to their 12-round battle. Roach naturally felt like he was robbed by the judges and called for their potential second fight to take place either in neutral territory or even in his home region in the greater Washington D.C. area.
Cruz’s lone demand for a second fight with the 30-year-old Roach was for anyone other than referee James Green to serve as the in-ring official.
The squat former WBA 140lbs titleholder took issue with the officiating on Saturday, particularly when he was docked a point for holding and hitting in the seventh round. The deduction proved to be the difference on the cards between the actual verdict and what could have been a unanimous decision for Cruz.
“I did my job, I did my work,” said Cruz. “The referee was on his side; the judges were, too. I thought I won this fight.
“I thought the referee had favoritism. But the most important thing is that the fans got a great fight in the end. That’s what made me happy.”
