The match between D.C. boxing star Lamont “The Reaper” Roach Jr. (25-1-3, 10 knockouts) against World Boxing Council (WBC) interim junior welterweight title champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz reached a majority draw on Dec. 6 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio.
“I knew that we could back Pitbull up and I knew that we could bang with him on the inside,” said the boxer’s father and trainer Lamont Roach Sr. “We could have made it a lot easier on our end and make it a boring fight. But he [Roach] showed grit, he showed his competitiveness…he fought beautiful. We just didn’t get the decision. We got a draw, we didn’t get a loss as well. We’ll go back to the drawing board and see if they [Issac Cruz] wants to run it back.”
After the fight, Roach Jr. voiced his frustration of facing a majority draw for a second-consecutive fight.
“All I want is a fair shake, man. That’s it,” Roach Jr. 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.”
For Roach Jr., this match was another disappointment, while still carrying the sting of his controversial majority draw with Gervonta “Tank” Davis in March.
With a rematch out of reach, he looked elsewhere for opportunity, moving up to 140 pounds to take on Cruz (28-3-2, 18 KOs). Roach Jr. technically came in as the World Boxing Association super featherweight champion, but he was stripped of the belt the moment the opening bell rang.
The fight began evenly, though Cruz gained an early edge with a third-round knockdown, the first of Roach’s career. But Roach responded with smart adjustments with hooks and jabs and appeared to seize momentum in the back half of the fight. However, his rally wasn’t enough to secure a win leaving him without a victory in his last two outings.
Cruz retained his WBC interim junior welterweight title. One judge had Cruz ahead 115–111, while the other two scored the bout even at 113–113.
Despite the draw, there were some highlights for the D.C. boxer.
“I proved that I will fight anyone,” said Roach Jr. “Again this is not my natural weight and I moved up again and fought a tough competitor: Isaac Cruz.”
However, Roach Jr. wants to showcase his skills in another match that, hopefully, does not end in a draw.
“Two times in a row is crazy. I can’t fight my opponent and fight the judges. It’s something we’ve got to do about it,” he continued. “I think I won. I think I definitely outboxed him [Issac Cruz]. All I need is an even playing field ”