SAN DIEGO — Isaac Cruz successfully defended his WBC Interim super-lightweight title for the second time, securing a stoppage victory over challenger Nestor Bravo. The bout, held in San Diego, saw Cruz dominate the contest and floor his opponent twice, with a final, devastating left hook ending the fight. This result marks Cruz’s first knockout win since his 2024 victory over Rolando Romero.
Despite suffering the first knockout loss of his professional career, Bravo offered a tactical assessment of the champion’s style. Speaking to FightHub, Bravo noted that Cruz’s effectiveness stemmed from his physical stature and movement rather than pure punching force. “To be honest, he is not the heaviest hitter,” Bravo said. “He’s just a little bit uncomfortable with his height. It’s not as if his hands are heavy, but it’s the shots that you don’t see coming that hurt you.”
Bravo highlighted an early exchange that impacted his performance, noting, “From the first round, he came in with a shot behind the head – it was not on purpose – but that was the shot that really buzzed me.” Following the win, Cruz is reportedly being linked to a potential challenge for Ryan Garcia’s WBC title at welterweight, though Garcia is also currently in early discussions regarding a unification bout with WBA welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez.