One of Mexico’s most beloved boxers, who recently began training in San Diego, will be part of a boxing fiesta at Pechanga Arena on Saturday night, fittingly just days after Mexican Independence Day.
Mexican superstar Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz will take on a determined challenger in Nestor Bravo of Arecibo, Puerto Rico in the main event. Cruz, of Mexico City (28-3-2, 18 KOs), will defend his interim WBC World Super Lightweight title against Bravo (24-1, 17 KOs) in his first championship fight.
Limited tickets are still available through AXS.com. Doors open at 2 p.m., with the first fights starting at 3 p.m., and the main card getting underway with four fights at 5 p.m. The main card airs on the DAZN streaming platform worldwide.
The 28-year-old Cruz has a devoted fan base who love the determination his nickname represents, and his devotion to giving them highly entertaining fights. Cruz says he hopes to see fans from both Mexico and the United States in the seats watching on Saturday. When asked what drives their loyalty to him, Cruz said he isn’t quite sure.
“I can’t put my finger on it, but what I can tell you is that I come here to do my job, and the fans give me their love, and I hope that that continues because that’s the way it’s always going to be. I’m always going to be out there for the fans,” said Cruz.
Cruz recently began training locally with Eddy Reynoso, the longtime Hall of Fame trainer who works with San Diego resident and former world champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Reynoso recently opened his own gym in the Miramar area, the Escuela de Boxeo (School of Boxing), after sharing space with the House of Boxing in National City for many years.
While Cruz is the oddsmakers’ favorite and as well the fan favorite, Bravo, his opponent, does not plan to go home to Puerto Rico empty handed. Speaking with Bravo, 32, and his team this week made a solid case for his ambitions.
“I’m ready to do whatever it takes so that we hear ‘And the new’ on Saturday night. This is the opportunity I’ve worked my whole career for,” said Bravo.
“There are opportunities that come once in a lifetime. I’ve been fighting for this opportunity for a while,” saying he knocked on many doors before the call came to take on Cruz.
At 5-foot-9, Bravo stands five inches taller than Cruz at 5-foot-4. He plans to keep Pitbull “on a leash” by not allowing himself to be bullied by the aggressive Mexican. But Bravo also acknowledged both like to fight and said he will not be surprised if things get spicy on Saturday.
“Whoever wants to see what really Nestor Bravo is all about, just come to the Pechanga Arena and sit in the front row and you’re going to see a great performance,” said Bravo.
Cruz said he is highly motivated to deliver just like his opponent. “Fighting during Mexican Independence Month means a lot to me and all of Mexico. That’s why it’s my duty to put on a show and fight with pride on Saturday night.
“Bravo is an all-out fighter, and Saturday night is going to be an all-out war where I expect nothing but fireworks for the fans,” said Cruz.
Also in the lineup, undefeated super middleweight prospect Daniel “Iceman” Blancas of Milwaukee (15-0, 7 KOs) will face veteran contender Sergio Jimenez of Mexicali (17-1-1, 15 KOs) in a scheduled 10-round fight.
Paris 2024 Mexican Olympic Silver Medalist Marco Verde of Mazatlán (6-0, 3 KOs) takes on fellow unbeaten Guillermo Hernandez of Calgary, Alberta, Canada (7-0, 4 KOs) in a super middleweight bout scheduled for eight rounds.
Exciting Filipino prospect Eumir Marcial of Las Vegas (7-0, 4 KOs) will crash the fiesta, challenging San Diego’s Omar Huerta (15-1, 13 KOs) in an eight-round middleweight matchup.
Also appearing, San Diego super lightweight Diego Luna (8-1, 6 KOs) will face Cuba native Renny Mastrapa of Las Vegas (4-4-2, 2 KOs) in a six-round fight. Luna trains at the House of Boxing with Carlos Barragan Jr., who also works with Reynoso at his new gym.
The original co-main event between WBC Interim Middleweight champion Jesus Ramos Jr. and unbeaten challenger Meiirim Nursultanov of Kazakhstan was cancelled when Ramos Jr. fell ill on Friday and was hospitalized.
