Comments Thread For: Isaac Cruz's campaign as Mexico's 'most-loved' fighter heads to L.A.

[brettWall]

Rain or shine, I don't think Tank Davis wants that rematch.

[Elotero]

Guy is trash like his promoter. Hoping for an upset because if not we will hear another years worth of begging for a rematch with Tank.

[crimsonfalcon07]

Valenzuela has the tools for an upset here.

I've been watching tape, and I would be very curious to know why you think this. Valenzuela had the same defensive flaws vs De Los Santos as Rolly did vs Pitbull. Very open guard, and overreliance on a Philly shell but his stance is too square, making him still susceptible to hooks. Drops his lead when he jabs, making it easy to come over the top. I grant you Cruz and DLS are very physically different, but there's a lot for Cruz to take advantage of, and Cruz has never been stopped, even by Tank, so that puncher's chance doesn't look that good either.

He does have a 5" reach advantage over Cruz, so hopefully he can make good use of that. But here's a sequence I expect to see repeated: Rayo will shuffle into range with hands low. He'll put up his high guard to invite a punch, and Cruz will take advantage by targeting his body, and will drive him back and tee off. Rayo doesn't seem to do anything when he's being driven back with volume, and his high guard invitation to offense just lets his opponents get some free body work. What am I missing here? If this fight will be part of the Pick Em, feel free to tell me after the fight. I'm in it just to see the techniques of the sweet science being put into play.

[Tatabanya]

I've been watching tape, and I would be very curious to know why you think this. Valenzuela had the same defensive flaws vs De Los Santos as Rolly did vs Pitbull. Very open guard, and overreliance on a Philly shell but his stance is too square, making him still susceptible to hooks. Drops his lead when he jabs, making it easy to come over the top. I grant you Cruz and DLS are very physically different, but there's a lot for Cruz to take advantage of, and Cruz has never been stopped, even by Tank, so that puncher's chance doesn't look that good either.

He does have a 5" reach advantage over Cruz, so hopefully he can make good use of that. But here's a sequence I expect to see repeated: Rayo will shuffle into range with hands low. He'll put up his high guard to invite a punch, and Cruz will take advantage by targeting his body, and will drive him back and tee off. Rayo doesn't seem to do anything when he's being driven back with volume, and his high guard invitation to offense just lets his opponents get some free body work. What am I missing here? If this fight will be part of the Pick Em, feel free to tell me after the fight. I'm in it just to see the techniques of the sweet science being put into play.

Wonderful analysis.

Just a gut feeling of mine. I remember how bad Cruz looked vs Cabrera, who was just annihilated by Zepeda. But of course Cabrera doesn't have the same style of Valenzuela.

In a nutshell, I perceive Cruz as slightly overrated, and Valenzuela is maturing into a very good fighter. His win against Colbert was an excellent one. True, Cruz has never been knocked out, but this doesn't mean that it can't happen. Then again, Valenzuela has a good trainer in Robert Garcia, he could box more than we expect and win a decision.

I'm not saying it will happen 100%. But I'll definitely put some money on Valenzuela.

[nghtmr111]

Guy is trash like his promoter. Hoping for an upset because if not we will hear another years worth of begging for a rematch with Tank.

I don’t think Cruz is trash, but I’m not particularly convinced with how ‘good’ people make him out to be. Definitely a good fighter and entertaining… but I want to see him against the other top guys. The fight with Tank was only close because of Davis OBVIOUSLY having an injured hand.

I wouldn’t mind the rematch, but Cruz has other options at 140.

[crimsonfalcon07]

Wonderful analysis.

Just a gut feeling of mine. I remember how bad Cruz looked vs Cabrera, who was just annihilated by Zepeda. But of course Cabrera doesn't have the same style of Valenzuela.

In a nutshell, I perceive Cruz as slightly overrated, and Valenzuela is maturing into a very good fighter. His win against Colbert was an excellent one. True, Cruz has never been knocked out, but this doesn't mean that it can't happen. Then again, Valenzuela has a good trainer in Robert Garcia, he could box more than we expect and win a decision.

I'm not saying it will happen 100%. But I'll definitely put some money on Valenzuela.

Thanks for the thoughts! Robert Garcia is definitely a great trainer, and if he can make good use of that 5" reach advantage, should make for an interesting fight. I'm hoping Rayo is more of a live dog than I'm giving him credit for here.

[nghtmr111]

Wonderful analysis.

Just a gut feeling of mine. I remember how bad Cruz looked vs Cabrera, who was just annihilated by Zepeda. But of course Cabrera doesn't have the same style of Valenzuela.

In a nutshell, I perceive Cruz as slightly overrated, and Valenzuela is maturing into a very good fighter. His win against Colbert was an excellent one. True, Cruz has never been knocked out, but this doesn't mean that it can't happen. Then again, Valenzuela has a good trainer in Robert Garcia, he could box more than we expect and win a decision.

I'm not saying it will happen 100%. But I'll definitely put some money on Valenzuela.

you and crimsonfalcon07 good analysis

Like I stated in my post above, I’m not convinced by Cruz just yet. I feel like he’s been slightly overrated after having a close fight with a Tank Davis who obviously had a hand injury during their fight.

Cruz is good, but I don’t know how good just yet.

[crimsonfalcon07]

you and crimsonfalcon07 good analysis

Like I stated in my post above, I’m not convinced by Cruz just yet. I feel like he’s been slightly overrated after having a close fight with a Tank Davis who obviously had a hand injury during their fight.

Cruz is good, but I don’t know how good just yet.

I would like to see Rayo keep a busy stick and follow it up with an uppercut periodically. I don't think it's wise for him to counterpunch vs Cruz because that surrenders the initiative to the smaller fighter and if Cruz is close enough to punch, he's where he wants to be, and not where Valenzuela needs the fight to be. But that level of activity hasn't been Rayo's bread and butter. I do think Cruz isn't all that, but he's fun to watch and I think he's got the right style for this fight. He'd struggle badly against Haney or Teo IMO.

[LA_2_Vegas]

I don't see why Cruz can't be outboxed by a faster fighter who has a significant reach and height advantage. It'd be one thing if Valenzuela didn;t have much going on in the talent dept, but he's got ability and still young. (it's the garaged sized holes in his defense isn't it?)

In Cruz's first loss the guy was taller and had a reach advantage and just kept him on the outside, Just from memory, Cruz couldn't do that much, when he get inside he was getting frustrated and a little dirty. Not a lot happened, h e just took the L. (let me know if i am not remembering that correctly)

Rayo is 5'10, an inch taller than that guy Cruz lost to and much more talented.

[macmike100]

I'd say Rayo is buffed and ready. He's feeling the strength of the extra 5lbs. He's had a nice prep for this fight. Don't under estimate this warrior. This guy can hit.
This will be the best fight of the card IMO. Looking forward to it.