Rolando “Rolly” Romero and Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz are two of the most exciting young fighters in the lightweight division. Both lost in title fights to Gervonta Davis, but now, they are facing each other for a world title one division higher at super lightweight.
Romero, 27, is the current WBA super lightweight champion after defeating Ismael Barroso in May 2022. He has an impressive 15-1 record with 13 KOs. Cruz, just 24 years old, has quickly made a name for himself with his aggressive and fan-friendly style. He has a record of 25-2-1 with 17 KOs.
With Davis moving on to take on other challengers at 140 pounds, Romero and Cruz will battle for supremacy in the division. This fight is happening now because both fighters are coming off wins and are ready to take the next step in their careers. The winner will establish himself as the top contender at 140 pounds and a possible future opponent for Davis.
Expect fireworks when these two dynamic punchers collide. Their styles should make for an action-packed fight that fans won’t want to miss.
When and Where?
Saturday, March 30, 8:00 pm ET at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
Ring Walks time:
(Estimated) 10:30 pm ET
Moneyline odds:
Rolando Romero 3.235Â
Isaac Cruz 1.39
Where can I watch it?
Amazon Prime Video, PPV, and Star+
Why Bet on Rolando Romero?
For Romero, the key will be to utilize his power and explosiveness. He has tremendous knockout power in both hands, with a KO ratio of over 70%. He will look to end this fight early by connecting his strong left hook and right jab on Cruz. However, he can’t simply rely on landing a big punch.Â
In addition, Romero needs to work behind an active jab and mix up his punches to the head and body. If he gets too wild with his power punches, Cruz can counter him. He must stay disciplined in his striking.
Defensively, Rolando must keep his hands up and be ready to slip or block Cruz’s shots, as Cruz is an accurate combination puncher, so he cannot give him free openings. Using lateral movement and angles will also help Romero create openings for his power shots while avoiding Cruz’s combinations.
Why Bet on Isaac Cruz?
For Cruz, the key will be to use his high punching power and pressure to break Romero down. He is excellent at combining punches to the head and body, so he will look to crowd Romero while hitting him with hooks and uppercuts on the inside. However, the Mexican cannot simply stand still, as that will allow Romero to load up on power shots. He needs to apply deft pressure, cutting off the ring and working behind the jab.
Defensively, Cruz must be ready to counter when Romero inevitably loads up with power shots. Keeping a high guard and being ready to slip and counter quickly will be crucial. The DF native can’t let Romero tee off with power shots. Overall, he needs to establish a fast pace and outwork Romero on the inside to get the win.
Final Betting Analysis:Â Rolando Romero vs. Isaac Cruz
Romero comes into this fight with the firm conviction of taking the victory before the final bell, considering that 13 of his 15 triumphs have been by knockout, with his devastating left hook as his key weapon. And when he lands cleanly, opponents crumble.Â
Meanwhile, Cruz is dangerous, with a high-volume attack and good timing in his counter-attacks. But his punch resistance has been questionable, being knocked down by Gamboa recently. Against Romero, he can’t afford to make too many missteps.Â
The likely outcome is a win for Romero by technical KO midway through the seventh assault. Cruz’s best bet is to try to spread it out and take Romero into deep water. However, the American’s power could make it difficult for him to control things as he likes, ending up in spaces that could be lethal in this context.
We’ll go for the surprise at 3.235. If you bet $100 at such odds, you could get $223.5 for a total payout of $323.5
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