LAMONT ROACH: WIN OVER ISAAC CRUZ PUTS ME IN LINE FOR WBC TITLE
Lamont Roach, a three-division mover, vows to "bring back old-school boxing" against Isaac Cruz. A win at the Frost Bank Centre establishes him as a top contender, silencing doubts from his Davis fight.
Lamont Roach Jr. believes his fight with Gervonta Davis should've been ruled a knockdown, potentially giving him the win in their March match.
Now, after waiting for a rematch that didn't happen, Roach is ready for a fresh start.
His next fight is Saturday against WBC interim junior welterweight titleholder Isaac Cruz at the Frost Bank Centre in San Antonio, Texas. It's the headline fight for PBC on Prime Video PPV.
"I want to make it clear that my last performance wasn't a one-time thing," Roach stated at a press conference. I plan to bring that same energy to every fight. I'm here to entertain the fans and prove I deserve to be headlining events like this.
My aim has always been simple: take on the best. Getting to this level was always my plan; I just need time. I know my capabilities, and I've been proving it to myself throughout my career.
This fight against Cruz marks Roach's third time switching weight divisions since last June. He grabbed the WBA 130-pound title by defeating Feargal McCrory, then challenged Davis at 135 pounds. Now, he's taking on Cruz as a junior welterweight.
“I’m going to be really strong. I have less weight to lose and more freedom. I’m in top shape now, and moving up in weight is just another step for me,” Roach said.
“There’s a good possibility I'll stay at 140 pounds. It all depends on what opportunities come up. Ideally, I want to return to 135 and win a title since I felt I was cheated out of one before.”
Cruz tends to struggle against opponents who are more skilled, similar to his fights with Davis (loss), Giovanni Cabrera (win), and Jose Valenzuela (loss). If Roach focuses on his boxing skills, it could be a tough night for Cruz, whose most impressive win was against Rolando Romero last March.
“I like fighting his style because it suits my strengths,” Roach explained. “We brought in tough sparring partners who are very aggressive. We’ve been performing well against them. Cruz is a great fighter, very explosive and exciting for fans. I think I’m a great match for his style.
Tune in, and you'll see what you expect. I plan to win and put on a great show.”
Roach has grown since his first pro loss in 2019 to Jamel Herring for the WBO 130-pound title. Now, he has big ambitions in competitive weight divisions.
“I've told everyone that I want to bring back old-school boxing,” said Roach. “My decision to accept this fight with Cruz proves that. I'm definitely going to deliver an action-packed fight.
“This would be a great statement. Some fighters might see me as a smaller guy moving up in weight and want to face me. If I win this fight, I’ll be in line for a shot at the WBC champion or any of the other titleholders. That's my goal.
“Every time I step into the ring, I aim to show everyone that I will be remembered as one of the best fighters ever.”
EDDIE HEARN ADMITS AUSTIN WILLIAMS CANNOT OUTBOX WBC CHAMPION CARLOS ADAMES
Austin Ammo Williams faces a life-changing chance Saturday as Hearn plots a late-round breakdown of Carlos Adames.
Eddie Hearn isn’t trying to convince anyone that Austin “Ammo” Williams is a better boxer than Carlos Adames. He’s not pitching skill or finesse; he’s talking about grit. If Williams is going to win the WBC middleweight title on Saturday, it won’t be by outboxing Adames. Hearn’s hoping his guy drags Adames into the late rounds, toughs it out, and breaks him down physically.
Here’s the approach: Williams needs to pressure Adames, stay close, and make it ugly. A straightforward boxing match pretty much goes to Adames. So, Williams has to turn it into a dogfight.
“You just got to be a dog in there. You’ve got to hang with him, find a way, and try to combat the skill,” Hearn told DAZN Boxing. “You’ve got to try and trade with him, beat him up on the inside. You just have to not give in and find a way to break him.”
That’s the plan. Hearn figures the real shift probably happens late in the bout, maybe round nine, ten, or eleven, when toughness matters more than clean boxing or early dominance. Williams has to withstand as much punishment as he dishes out, keep pushing, and hope Adames finally breaks.
Hearn’s honesty actually tells you everything. “I don’t think Ammo is going to go in there and outbox Carlos Adames,” he said. He’s not pretending Williams is the slicker guy or has more tools. The path is straightforward: close the gap, trade shots, wear Adames down.
Still, Hearn sees a life-changing opportunity if Williams manages to pull it off. “If Ammo can become a middleweight world champion, he changes his life forever. The opportunity sits right in front of him on Saturday,” he said.
No doubt, Saturday’s a big chance. But it’s a rough road. If all you’ve got is to “find a way” through a gruelling fight, it usually means the champ has the edge when the boxing gets clean.
WHY NATE DIAZ SIGNED WITH JAKE PAUL’S MVP FOR MMA RETURN
Nate Diaz signs with Jake Paul’s MVP to face Mike Perry in an MMA return on the Rousey vs Carano Netflix card.
Nate Diaz is set to join the impressive undercard for the upcoming Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano bout. The UFC veteran has recently signed with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and will take on Mike Perry at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on May 16.
Diaz hasn’t stepped into the MMA cage since he submitted Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 back in 2022. After that, he tried his hand at boxing, debuting in the ring a year later, where he lost a points decision to Jake Paul. However, he bounced back in his next boxing match by securing a win against Jorge Masvidal.
There had been buzz about a potential fight between Diaz and Conor McGregor for McGregor’s UFC return, but those plans seem to have fallen through. Their history is well-known; they split victories in 2016, with Diaz dealing McGregor his first UFC loss. Many fans were hoping for a trilogy match, possibly headlining the promotion’s historic White House card.
Now Diaz is gearing up to face Perry at welterweight, following unified MMA rules over five rounds. He’ll be sharing the card with notable names like Francis Ngannou, who recently parted ways with PFL and is scheduled to fight Philipe Lins in the co-main event.
Diaz expressed his excitement about the return, saying, “Glad to be back in action." It’s time. Don’t forget where this all came from. I’ve got plans to keep going for the next decade, wherever it takes me. Time to set the bar again; get ready for a new takeover, again and again.”
He’s been hinting at this comeback for months and even called out Perry as part of a three-fight target list earlier this year. Diaz has openly admitted he has unfinished business in combat sports, aiming to capture gold before he retires.
His signing with MVP raises questions among MMA fans about whether the UFC had discussions with him beforehand, similar to what we saw with Rousey. She revealed she had talks with UFC CEO Dana White before announcing her Netflix fight against Carano, though she later criticised the UFC as a shadow of its former self, saying it no longer delivers the best fights.
While Diaz is undoubtedly the bigger name, Perry brings his own intensity to the card. Known as 'Platinum', Perry had a stint in McGregor’s Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship after leaving the UFC in 2021. He, too, has boxed and lost to Jake Paul before making a comeback to combat sports with a win over Jeremy Stephens at BKFC 82 last October.
Perry isn’t holding back, stating, “The King of Violence returns to MMA to elbow his opponent in the face.” The fight is set to be streamed on Netflix, with Perry promising Diaz will go “lights out” on May 16.
Nakisa Bidarian, MVP’s CEO, commented on the event’s massive potential, highlighting their record-breaking boxing viewership and expecting to smash those records again with this MMA card. He emphasised the matchup intensity, calling Diaz “the Real BMF” and Perry “the King of Violence", promising a battle from the first press conference through to the final bell.
This event in Los Angeles looks to be one of the biggest nights in combat sports, and Netflix’s involvement signals a bright future for MMA’s growth. More bouts for the card are expected to be announced soon, so keep an eye out for updates as the date approaches.
