In a thrilling yet controversial bout, Isaac Cruz successfully defended his WBC interim super-lightweight title against Lamont Roach in Texas. The fight was a back-and-forth affair, with Cruz showcasing his power by knocking Roach down in the third round with a fierce left hook. However, the referee's decisions proved to be a point of contention. Cruz was deducted a point for a kidney punch in the seventh round, and despite landing more punches (191 to 159), Roach secured a majority draw. This result comes as a disappointment to Roach, who expressed his frustration, stating, 'All I want is a fair shake, man. I don't accept this at all. I clearly thought I won a close fight.'
The fight's outcome sparked debate among fans and experts, with some questioning the fairness of the referee's decisions. Cruz, on the other hand, believes a rematch is warranted, provided a different referee officiates the bout. 'I won this fight and the referee took it from me,' he asserted.
In other boxing news, O'Shaquie Foster dominated Stephen Fulton to win the WBC interim lightweight title by majority decision. The fight was initially scheduled for Foster's WBC super-featherweight title, but Fulton's weight discrepancy at the weigh-in led to a change in the bout's purpose. Foster's victory, with scores of 117-111, 118-110, and 119-109, sets him up as the mandatory challenger to the winner of the Teofimo Lopez-Shakur Stevenson showdown on January 31.
Additionally, Erislandy Lara successfully defended his WBA middleweight title against Johan Gonzalez, a late replacement for Janibek Alimkhanuly, who failed a drugs test. Lara, a Cuban-American veteran, showcased his prowess with two knockdowns and a sharp performance, despite it being his first fight since September 2024. The judges' scores of 118-108, 119-107, and 120-106 reflected Lara's dominance throughout the bout.
