Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz is back in action Saturday night for his first defense of the interim WBC super lightweight championship. He faces once-beaten Puerto Rican contender Nestor Bravo in a 12-round main event, with a second interim WBC title fight between Jesus Ramos Jr. and Meiirim Nursultanov serving as the co-feature.
Here’s everything you need to know about Saturday’s Cruz vs. Bravo fight card.
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When is Isaac Cruz vs. Nestor Bravo and how can I watch?
Cruz vs. Bravo takes place Saturday, Sept. 19, at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California.
The four-fight televised card begins at 8 p.m. ET and streams live on DAZN.
What time are the Cruz vs. Bravo ring walks?
Cruz and Bravo are expected to make their ring walks at approximately 11 p.m. ET — though as always with boxing, that time is an estimate and could change on fight night.
What’s at stake in Isaac Cruz vs. Nestor Bravo?
Cruz (28-3-2, 18 KOs) makes his second defense of the interim WBC super lightweight title after capturing the belt with a unanimous decision over Omar Salcido in July. Cruz then fought to a controversial draw in December against Lamont Roach.
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The 28-year-old Mexican star has since joined forces with Eddy Reynoso, the longtime trainer of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Saturday will mark the pair’s first fight together.
Bravo (24-1, 17 KOs) enters the biggest stage of his career after scoring a second-round knockout of Pedro Campa in January.
Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (R) is one of boxing’s most exciting active fighters.
(Harry How via Getty Images)
Who is favored to win Cruz vs. Bravo?
Cruz is a massive betting favorite heading into Saturday’s title defense, currently listed at -750, with Bravo coming back as a +470 underdog.
Who else is fighting on the Cruz vs. Bravo card?
Interim WBC middleweight champion Jesus Ramos Jr. (24-1, 19 KOs) makes his first title defense against undefeated mandatory challenger Meiirim Nursultanov (20-0, 11 KOs) in Saturday’s co-feature.
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Ramos captured the interim belt with a unanimous decision over Shane Mosley Jr. in December on the Cruz vs. Roach card. Nursultanov, a 33-year-old native of Kazakhstan, enters his first world-level title opportunity with a perfect professional record.
The televised card also features undefeated super middleweight Daniel Blancas against Sergio Jimenez, while 2024 Olympic silver medalist Marco Verde puts his unbeaten professional record on the line against fellow undefeated prospect Guillermo Hernandez.
Check out the complete Cruz vs. Bravo fight card and odds below.
Main card (8 p.m. ET, DAZN)
Interim WBC super lightweight championship: Isaac Cruz (-750) vs. Nestor Bravo (+470)
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Interim WBC middleweight championship: Jesus Ramos Jr. (-650) vs. Meiirim Nursultanov (+420)
Super middleweight: Daniel Blancas (-2400) vs. Sergio Jimenez (+810)
Middleweight: Marco Verde vs. Guillermo Hernandez
Non-televised undercard
Middleweight: Eumir Marcial vs. Omar Ulises Huerta
Super middleweight: Lazaro Francisco Lorenzana vs. Marcos Vazquez Rodriguez
Lightweight: Robert Guerrero Jr. vs. Shawn Rall
Heavyweight: Valerii Tadtaev vs. Juan Silva
Super lightweight: Diego Luna vs. Renny Viamonte Mastrapa
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