For some time, the boxing world was left in confusion. ‘Pitbull’ vs. ‘KingRy.’ Yes, you heard that right. Ryan Garcia, whose year-long suspension ends in April, was initially set to face Isaac Cruz on a stacked card that also featured a clash between rivals Devin Haney and Jose Ramirez. But what followed was yet another twist. Instead of Cruz, Garcia will now face Rolando Romero. So, what happens to ‘Pitbull’? Well, he will now take on WBO fifth-ranked Angel Fierro in an all-Mexican showdown on the undercard of the David Benavidez–David Morrell fight.

Perhaps Cruz and his team felt that opening the year with a high-stakes fight against the charismatic Ryan Garcia could be risky, especially when Cruz is desperately trying to get his career back on track. A safer route was to take a lesser-known matchup before moving on to bigger challenges. For Angel Fierro, this fight presents a golden opportunity to make his mark on the big stage. For Cruz, it’s a must-win if he wants to revive his world championship aspirations and remain relevant among the division’s elite. So, how do the two fighters match up?

Predicting Isaac Cruz vs. Angel Fierro: Who has better stats and record?

Let’s dive into the careers and records of these two fighters to see how they stack up against each other. Starting with Isaac Cruz, not much is known about his amateur career. However, his decade-long professional journey has been a rollercoaster of achievements and setbacks.

Debuting on March 14, 2015, ‘Pitbull’ Cruz had his first shot at a world title against the relentless Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis. Though he lost, Cruz gained widespread respect for his performance, becoming one of the few fighters to go the distance with Davis. Success followed when he knocked out the much-fancied Rolando Romero on the inaugural PBC-Amazon Prime card, capturing the light welterweight title.

However, Cruz later suffered a setback against Jose Valenzuela. The savvy southpaw outboxed Cruz and handed him a third career loss. Known for his aggressive style and devastating punches, Cruz boasts a record of 30 professional fights, with 26 wins, 4 losses, and 70% of his victories coming via knockout.

Angel Fierro, Cruz’s opponent, has flown under the radar for much of his career. Turning pro in the same year as Cruz, Fierro has yet to claim a world title. However, the Tijuana-born fighter, with several regional titles to his name, is known for his power. Fierro has fought 27 professional bouts, winning 25, losing 2, and drawing 2. Impressively, nearly 78% of his victories have come by knockout.

Based on their records, fans can expect a high-octane clash that could go either way. But first, let’s compare their physical attributes.

Cruz and Fierro height, weight, reach comparison, and more

Physically, Angel Fierro appears to have a slight edge over the former world champion. Standing 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) tall with a reach of 70 inches (178 cm), Fierro holds a clear advantage over the 5-foot-4-inch (163 cm) Isaac Cruz, whose reach is just 63 inches (160 cm).

In their most recent bouts, both fighters weighed around 140 pounds. Cruz weighed in at 140.0 pounds for his fight against Valenzuela on August 3. On the other hand, Fierro also registered a similar weight when he faced Alfredo Santiago.

Cruz and Fierro: Odds and how the fight may unfold

Despite the risks involved, oddsmakers favor Isaac Cruz to win, with odds of -700 compared to Angel Fierro’s +500 underdog status. However, these odds could shift as fight night approaches. Cruz’s edge likely comes from his experience. Unlike Fierro, Cruz has faced some of the biggest names in the 135-140 pound weight classes. Additionally, Cruz is under pressure to secure a win to get his career back on track. A victory would pave the way for bigger paydays and championship opportunities. But another loss could raise serious doubts about his future.

On the other hand, Fierro has a chance to stage a career-defining upset. He’s a powerful puncher. However, he’ll need to avoid Cruz’s trademark overhand rights and relentless pressure over the course of ten rounds. It’s a challenge that won’t be easy.

Do you think Isaac Cruz will get back to winning ways with a victory over Angel Fierro, or will Fierro pull off a stunning upset?