Lamont Roach Jr. and Isaac Cruz Battle to a Majority Draw in Thrilling Junior Welterweight Bout
Lamont Roach Jr. and Isaac Cruz engaged in a highly competitive and closely contested junior welterweight fight at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, which ultimately ended in a majority draw. The outcome saw Cruz retain his WBC interim junior welterweight title, while Roach was left with his second consecutive majority draw this year.
The judges’ scorecards reflected the tight nature of the contest, with one judge scoring the fight 115-111 in favor of Cruz and two judges scoring it 113-113. This result has sparked debate, with both fighters and their camps expressing their thoughts on the outcome.
Roach, who was coming off a controversial majority draw against Gervonta “Tank” Davis in March, expressed his frustration with the decision. “All I want is a fair shake, man. That’s it,” Roach said. “I think I pulled that fight out…. I don’t know what I got to do. But we’re going to go back to the drawing board. I don’t accept this at all. I clearly thought I won a close fight, and I’m tired of this s—, man.”
Fight Analysis and Aftermath
The fight itself was a closely contested affair, with both fighters giving their all in the ring. Cruz charged at Roach from the opening bell, firing looping punches and causing Roach to alter his approach after a third-round knockdown. Roach adjusted his strategy, fighting in the pocket and landing some significant shots, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win.
Cruz, who had won six of his previous seven fights, including a victory over Omar Salcido to claim the vacant WBC interim junior welterweight title, was pleased with his performance. “I knew that he was going to stand his ground and fight toe-to-toe,” Cruz said. “But guess what? I also boxed too, something that people didn’t realize that I could do. I boxed.”
Despite the draw, both fighters have expressed interest in a rematch. However, Cruz stated that he would only accept a rematch with a different referee, citing concerns over the officiating in the first fight.
Co-Main Event: O’Shaquie Foster Dominates Stephen Fulton
In the co-main event, O’Shaquie Foster put on a dominant display to defeat Stephen Fulton via unanimous decision, becoming the WBC interim lightweight champion in the process. The fight was originally scheduled to be contested for Foster’s WBC junior lightweight title, but Fulton came in overweight, leading to a change in the stakes.
Foster’s victory was comprehensive, with all three judges scoring the fight in his favor. The final scores were 117-111, 118-110, and 119-109, reflecting Foster’s superiority throughout the 12-round contest. Fulton’s frustration grew as the fight wore on, but Foster’s sharp jab and clever footwork allowed him to control the pace and secure a well-deserved win.
