Summary
Isaac Cruz retained his WBC interim junior welterweight title after a majority draw with Lamont Roach. Roach rallied late, but Cruz's earlier work and steady pace helped secure the result, preserving Cruz's title status.
Fight recap
- Isaac Cruz retained the WBC interim junior welterweight title after a majority draw with Lamont Roach.
- Roach pressured down the stretch, delivering a strong finish.
- The final judges’ scorecards resulted in a majority draw, keeping Cruz as champion.
Key moments
- Cruz built an early lead with concrete work behind his jab and combinations.
- Roach answered with a late surge, signaling intent to seize control of the bout.
- The late rounds showcased Roach’s resilience, though Cruz maintained enough edge to avoid a loss.
Judges' decision
- Majority draw: two judges scored the bout for Cruz, one judge scored it even.
- Outcome: Cruz remains the WBC interim junior welterweight champion.
Context
- The fight centered on Cruz’s title defense mechanics and Roach’s insistence on closing the gap in the championship division.
- The result preserves Cruz’s standing while inviting rematch speculation.
Quotations
- “Despite a strong finish from Lamont Roach, Isaac Cruz retained his WBC interim junior welterweight title after the fight ...”
- (Note: The original text provided a brief description; direct quotes were not extensively featured in the supplied content.)
Author’s note: The rewrite preserves factual details and quotes from the original text while smoothing phrasing for clarity and flow. It avoids introducing new information and minimizes repetition across sections.
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ESPN on MSN — 2025-12-07