Pitbull Cruz and Lamont Roach fought to a majority draw in front of a fantastic crowd in San Antonio tonight, a good, hard-fought main event that saw Roach end something of a breakout year without actually receiving a win.
It’s the second draw of 2025 for Roach, and both of them were genuinely controversial. Roach (25-1-3, 10 KO) fought Gervonta “Tank” Davis to a draw back in March, a fight many felt he deserved to win and was given the short end on the cards. This one came back pretty much the same way — one judge scored it for promotional A-side Cruz (28-3-2, 18 KO), while the other two had it even.
Judges had it 113-113 on two cards, owing to Cruz scoring a third round knockdown and later being docked a point in round seven for punching to the back and kidney area, while the third judge had it 115-111 for the Mexican star.
Cruz did start the fight well, but Roach got on a real roll in the middle rounds. Cruz battled hard throughout, though he was more rattled in this fight than we’ve ever seen him, perhaps, something he seemed to blame on referee James Green, whom he believes “took the fight from” him with the point deduction.
The WBC interim super lightweight title was on the line, and remains vacant. Roach gave up a super featherweight title to take this fight, so now he has no belts and something of a tough spot, leverage-wise. He’s raised his stock this year, but it’s also clear that he’s a very tough out for top fighters, and he as unfair as it is, he could find it hard to get good opponents in 2026.
Roach’s frustration was even more direct after this draw than back in March.
“All I want is a fair shake, man. I think I pulled that fight out,” Roach said. “It’s some bullshit, man. I don’t know what I’ve got to do. We’re gonna go back to the drawing board, but I don’t accept this at all. I thought I won a close fight, and I just — I’m tired of this shit.”
Roach’s displeasure with the victory didn’t extend to his opponent, though. “Hats off to a tough Pitbull, a great champion in Pitbull himself,” he said.
“I did my job, the referee was on his side and obviously the judges were, too,” Cruz said for his side. He said he would be interested in a rematch with a different referee.
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