Mexican slugger Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz has become one of the most popular boxers in the world.
He will fight anyone, and his sawed-off, aggressive style has attracted a significant fanbase in the US and, particularly, Mexico.
It is what Cruz’s manager, Sean Gibbons, has called “Pitbullmania,” and it sees Cruz mobbed just about everywhere he goes when he’s in town for a fight.
Cruz next boxes on July 19 against Angel Fierro in a rematch of their 10-rounder in February, which Cruz won by decision.
Fierro is 23-3-2 (18 KOs), while the 27-year-old former WBA 140lbs titleholder Cruz is 27-3-1 (18 KOs). Cruz recently told BoxingScene he is enjoying the fame boxing has given him.
“I’m very thankful with everything we’ve been able to do in the ring during this training camp,” Cruz began. Then, talking about Pitbullmania, he continued: “It was actually very sudden, the way that Pitbullmania happened, but the overwhelming show of support means a lot to me and I’m very happy to receive all the love from the fans. It’s truly something I appreciate, and I want to keep it going because it’s awesome.
“I never thought I would be where I am at a young age, but that was always my dream when I was a kid.”
Gibbons has spoken of long lines forming to greet Cruz whenever he fights, and the fighter’s profile was raised higher by a narrow decision loss in Los Angeles to Gervonta Davis. That remains a fight Cruz is keen to have again in the future.
He and Davis both work with PBC and Al Haymon.
“Al Haymon is a very good person,” said Cruz. “He’s reserved and someone that doesn’t make public appearances, but I can tell you that he’s always been all-in for his promotion and his people and I’m very thankful with PBC, with Al Haymon, with Sean Gibbons, with Manny Pacquiao Promotions. So in the end, it’s all about Al Haymon being there for his people, and that’s what he does. He’s all-in, and although I haven’t had the chance to meet him in person, I look forward to doing so one day.”
Tris Dixon covered his first amateur boxing fight in 1996. The former editor of Boxing News, he has written for a number of international publications and newspapers, including GQ and Men’s Health, and is a board member for the Ringside Charitable Trust and the Ring of Brotherhood. He has been a broadcaster for TNT Sports and hosts the popular “Boxing Life Stories” podcast. Dixon is a British Boxing Hall of Famer, an International Boxing Hall of Fame elector, is on The Ring ratings panel and is the author of five boxing books, including “Damage: The Untold Story of Brain Trauma in Boxing” (shortlisted for the William Hill Sportsbook of the Year), “Warrior: A Champion’s Search for His Identity” (shortlisted for the Sunday Times International Sportsbook of the Year) and “The Road to Nowhere: A Journey Through Boxing’s Wastelands.” You can reach him @trisdixon on X and Instagram.
