Cruz and Bravo trade final words before Saturday's title fight in San Diego

SAN DIEGO — Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz and Nestor Bravo have officially made weight, and their rivalry is one night away from being settled in the ring at Pechanga Arena.

Cruz defends his Interim WBC Super Lightweight Title against Bravo Saturday night, streaming live on DAZN and presented by PBC, Premier Boxing Champions. The matchup sets up as a real style clash. Cruz fights out of a squared-up, peek-a-boo guard that draws constant Mike Tyson comparisons, walking opponents down behind bobbing head movement and heavy hands.

Bravo gives up almost nothing there. He stands nearly five inches taller than Cruz with a six-and-a-half-inch reach advantage, and he's built his career on using that length to box from range and pick his spots rather than trade. How Cruz closes that distance, and whether Bravo can keep him on the outside for twelve rounds, is the fight inside the fight Saturday.

Both fighters arrive with recent chapters they're looking to write over. Cruz's last outing was a majority draw against Lamont Roach in December, a fight plenty of ringside voices thought he'd done enough to win outright before two scorecards came back even. He's also carrying two losses on his record, to Gervonta Davis in 2021 and to Jose "Rayo" Valenzuela in 2024, the latter costing him a version of his 140-pound title. 

Bravo, meanwhile, is one fight removed from the best win of his career, a second-round knockout of Pedro Campa in January that's been talked about as a Knockout of the Year candidate. It came right after the only loss of his career, a split decision to Xolisani Ndongeni, and Bravo has framed the Campa knockout as proof that result was the outlier.

“This is another chapter in a great rivalry between two boxing rich nations,” Cruz said Thursday. “I guarantee we're gonna put on a show and write another chapter in this rivalry.”

Cruz called this a “new era” for him, pointing to the Roach fight as proof he's more than a straight-ahead brawler. “I proved them wrong against Lamont Roach. Now I'm here to prove even more,” he said, adding that a win Saturday can push him toward the division's bigger names. He also tied the fight to the calendar, noting it lands during Mexican Independence weekend. “We want to fight at the level that this Mexican Independence Month deserves,” Cruz said, a line that carries weight for a fighter who's built his following on exactly that kind of blood-and-guts appeal.

Bravo wasn't shy about the moment either. “Saturday night you're gonna see what Nestor Bravo is about,” he said. “If you don't know me, then you're gonna know me for sure after Saturday night.” He pointed back to the Campa knockout in January as proof he's healthy and at his best, and called Cruz “a real world champion” before promising the fight will live up to the Mexico-Puerto Rico billing.

Both fighters made weight Friday. Cruz weighed in at 139 pounds and Bravo came in at 139.2, both comfortably under the 140-pound limit for Cruz's interim title. 

The scale wasn't where the real story was, though. Cruz and Bravo were still jawing at each other well after the numbers were official, going chest to chest as their teams and security had to step in between them. 

It was a different temperature than Thursday's press conference, where both guys stayed respectful and let their comments do the talking. Friday, the pleasantries were gone. No more press tour. No more mic time. Saturday, this gets settled in the ring.

The undercard shifted Friday afternoon. Interim WBC Middleweight Champion Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr.'s title defense against Meiirim Nursultanov, originally lined up as the co-main event, was pulled from the card and rescheduled for a later date. Filling out the night now is Filipino Olympic bronze medalist Eumir Marcial, who opens the show against veteran contender Omar Ulises Huerta.

Two other undercard names are worth tracking beyond Saturday. Unbeaten super middleweight Daniel “Iceman” Blancas, who trains under Jose Benavidez Sr., faces once-beaten Sergio Jimenez in a 10-round bout, and 2024 Mexican Olympic silver medalist Marco Verde, who works with Eddy Reynoso's camp, takes on fellow unbeaten fighter Guillermo Hernandez. 

TGB Promotions president Tom Brown called both prospects to watch heading into 2027, and kept his read on the main event just as direct. "Pitbull is a fan-favorite and is always in exciting fights," Brown said, adding that Bravo "carries his pride of Puerto Rico every time he steps into the ring" and brings his own fan-friendly style.

Cruz vs. Bravo headlines Saturday, September 19 from Pechanga Arena in San Diego, streaming live on DAZN. Main card coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.