“Fitbull!”

Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz mauled, dominated and dented brave  late replacement Omar Salcido to win WBC Interim Super Lightweight Title.

Relentless, ruthless Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz secured a unanimous decision victory over Omar Salcido at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, as part of the undercard headlined by Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios.

Originally scheduled to face Ángel Fierro, the bout took a last-minute twist and turn when the Tijuana fighter withdrew, giving Salcido the opportunity to step into the breach at very short notice. Despite the change, Pitbull as is his wont became a trench bull, taking a firm grip on the bout, which he collared.

The judges’ scorecards reflected his dominance: 100-88, 99-89, and 99-89, including a knockdown in the final round and a point deduction for Salcido due to repeated holding.

From the outset, Pitbull imposed his trademark aggressive style, landing powerful sinking sapping shots to the body and crunching hooks  to the head, never letting up,  forcing Salcido to backpedal throughout the fight. The Sinaloa native entered the ring with courage but was obliged to adopt a survival-based defensive strategy, milling on the retreat, as his long range efforts, failed to neutralize or stem the tide of  “Pitbull’s” overwhelming offensive tsunami.

With this victory, Pitbull who was very much on the ball, captures the WBC Interim Super Lightweight Title, firmly establishing himself as one of the division’s top contenders following his 2024 loss to Gervonta Davis.

“I’m ready for anyone in the division. This was just a sample of what I can do when I’m focused,” said Pitbull after the fight.

Salcido, bruised, battered and weary, expressed gratitude for the opportunity and acknowledged his opponent’s superiority:

“I stepped in knowing it was a tough fight, but I wasn’t going to back down.”

The win paves the way for new title opportunities for Cruz, while Salcido’s brave effort could earn him more important chances in the near future.