Lamont Roach once again enters a new weight class as the bigger man.
The long-reigning WBA 130lbs titlist was more than three pounds heavier than Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz for their most recent weight check ahead of their December 6 meeting. Cruz’s WBC interim junior welterweight title will be at stake, a distinction which requires both boxers to provide the sanctioning body with weigh-in results at the 30-, 14- and 7-day marks.
Roach, 25-1-2 (10 KOs), registered at 148.2 lbs 14 days out from fight night, while Mexico City’s Cruz, 28-3-1 (18 KOs) checked in at 145lbs.
WBC officials reported that both boxers met the 14-day pre-weigh-in requirement, though the math ain’t mathing for Roach. The checkpoint weight two weeks out is meant to be no more than 5 percent above the contracted limit. In this case, both boxers should be 147lbs or less.
Roach’s weight is 1.2lbs above that mark, though there has never been a real penalty for being over the limit at this stage. Rather, it’s used as information to determine whether participants are safely shedding weight ahead of the final pre-fight weigh-in.
The next check will come this weekend, when Cruz and Roach are to weigh no more than 3 percent above the 140lbs limit – which will be rounded up to 145lbs. Both are, of course, then required to weigh 140lbs or less at next Friday’s weigh-in, ahead of their PBC on Prime Video Pay-Per-View headliner from Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.
The forthcoming 12-round secondary title fight will mark Roach’s debut at the weight.
It comes just nine months after he moved up from 130lbs to challenge WBA lightweight titlist Gervonta “Tank” Davis. Roach officially weighed 135lbs, more than a pound heavier than Davis, 30-0-1 (28 KOs), who weighed 133.8lbs on the eve of their March 1 PPV main event from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Davis has campaigned at lightweight on and off since 2019, while Roach has fought at 130lbs for more than 10 years prior to moving up in weight. The 30-year-old from the greater Washington D.C. area still delivered arguably the best performance of his career as he held the heavier-handed Davis to a 12-round, majority draw.
Roach enjoyed a 1.5in height advantage over Davis. He will carry greater physical edges in height and reach over the 5ft, 4in Cruz, a former lightweight contender who will enter his fifth consecutive fight at junior welterweight.
Cruz’s debut at the weight came in an 8th round knockout of Rolando “Rolly” Romero to win the WBA 140lbs title last March 30 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. He lost the belt to Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela in his first defense last August 3 in Los Angeles.
Two wins have followed for Cruz entering this bout. He earned a 10-round, unanimous decision over countryman Angel Fierro in their February 1 scorcher also at T-Mobile. Five months ago and in his most recent outing, Cruz soundly outpointed late substitute Omar Salcido to win the WBC interim belt on July 19 at nearby MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Roach has not fought since his abovementioned battle with Davis. The two were on course to meet again on August 16, but Davis declined to move forward with the never formally announced event.
