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Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz vs Angel Fierro: Who Wins?

Originally posted on Fights Around The World
By Adam Noble-Forcey | Last updated Jan 31, 2025 8:02 PM ET

Pitbull-Mania suffered a major dent when Isaac Cruz relinquished his WBA super lightweight title to Jose Valenzuela last August in Los Angeles. Cruz (26-3-1, 18 KOs) saw his opponent’s hand raised as a split-decision loss was announced.

The 26-year-old Mexican experienced some significant fanfare from his box-mad native land when stopping Rolando Romero to claim the world title in Las Vegas. Tomorrow night, the rebuilding process begins against fellow Mexican Angel Fierro (23-2-2, 18 KOs) on the David Benavidez vs. David Morrell Jr. undercard at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The Tijuana man built himself into a contender with a decisive sixth-round stoppage over Puerto Rican Alberto Machado on away soil. However, his breakout moment followed a disastrous start, hitting the canvas in the first and second ro unds in March 2021. After another stoppage victory against Cristian Bielma, Fierro took on multiple world title challenger Juan Carlos Burgos in a difficult-to-split majority-decision draw. Two more decisive stoppages followed against Jeremy Cuevas and Eduardo Estela, but he was considered a little fortunate to walk away the victor in a split-decision win over Brayan Zamarripa Rodriguez.

In many ways, that razor-thin decision has spelled that the best of times are coming to an end as a second wide points loss to Alfredo Santiago came the following summer. He did record an 18th knockout over journeyman Eleazar Valenzuela Carrillo last November, but he’s been handpicked for Cruz to restart his ascension back to world title status. All action and at times inconsistent due to his come-forward style, his toughest test to date against Cruz most likely promises a stoppage, but the odds are stacked in favour of Mexico City’s Cruz.

Cruz’s clash with tricky southpaw Valenzuela was somewhat of a close fight and, with different-minded judges, could have sneaked a victory. Fierro poses a much simpler task as his fellow Mexican will come forward no matter how many times he hits the canvas.

Cruz’s experience is unparalleled to his compatriot. A record that includes Thomas Mattice, Diego Magdaleno, Francisco Vargas, Gervonta Davis and Romero makes Fierro’s record pale in comparison. And coming off a largely unexpected defeat to Valenzuela, Cruz will have a serious point to prove in Las Vegas. Tension has been riding high in the fight week build, with the pair being pulled apart during a face-off at the official press conference, which Cruz instigated. He means business as Pitbull-Mania has quietened down.

Fierro does have a considerable size and reach advantage over Cruz, yet that tends to be the case with the vast majority of Cruz’s opponents. An action-packed super lightweight contest is expected, with both men having no issue with pressing the pace, but it’s likely to be Fierro on the receiving end as the two men have been operating in different levels of the sport. The body shots will be key for the one-time world title holder. Fierro struggled with the body shots in his hometown against Zamarripa Rodriguez, with many believing he lost the split-decision victory. It’s about levels. Cruz’s has been much higher since 2020.