Cruz vs Fierro: A Showdown Built for Fight of the Year Honors
Las Vegas, NV â Cruz vs Fierro is shaping up to be a fight that could leave a lasting mark on boxing history.
Sometimes, boxing isnât just about winning or losingâitâs about making history.
Just ask Nonito Donaire, a fighter who knows what it takes to be part of an all-time classic. Back in 2019, he went to war with Japanâs Naoya Inoue, breaking his opponentâs orbital bone with a brutal left hand before getting dropped by a vicious body shot himself. Both men pushed through the pain and delivered a fight that fans still talk about today.
For Donaire, those are the moments that define a career.
âWhen youâre in a fight like that, the outcome doesnât even matter anymore,â he said during Wednesdayâs fighter workouts at MGM Grand. âYou just go in there and give everything you have.â
Thatâs exactly the mindset Isaac âPitbullâ Cruz is bringing into his fight against Angel Fierro on Saturday night. While the main event between David Benavidez and David Morrell Jr. is expected to be a thriller, Cruz and Fierro might just steal the show.
And they both know it.
Why This Fight Has the Makings of a Classic
Cruz vs. Fierro isnât just another undercard fightâit has everything fight fans love:
A former champ desperate to bounce back â Cruz is coming off a tough loss and needs a big performance to stay relevant.
An opponent with a chip on his shoulder â Fierro feels disrespected and wants to prove he belongs in the big leagues.
Two Mexican warriors known for bringing the heat â Neither of these guys is the type to back down.
On paper, itâs almost guaranteed to be an all-action war. Both fighters have knockout power (18 KOs each) and fight like theyâre always hunting for the finish.
Fierro, fully aware of the stakes, isnât backing down.
âI think we can steal the night,â he told PPV.COM. âI know heâs tough, but Iâve prepared 100 percent for this moment.â
Source: Pitbull Cruz seeks to make Angel Fierro matchup a Fight of the Year
Cruz Originally Planned to Fight Ryan GarciaâAnd Fierro Took It Personally
Thereâs some extra spice in this matchup, too. Originally, Cruz was supposed to fight Ryan Garcia in May. He even verbally agreed to the fight, but for reasons that arenât entirely clear, he backed out. Instead, Garcia will now face Rolando âRollyâ Romero, a guy Cruz actually beat last year.
For Fierro, this felt like disrespect.
âI donât know whatâs happening with Ryan Garcia, but I feel like Cruz is underestimating me,â he said. âAnd heâs going to find out that was a big mistake.â
He also knows that a win over Cruz would change his career overnight.
âI know people donât believe in me, but I donât care. Heâs going to see.â

Cruz Is on a Mission to Rebuild His Reputation
Cruz, on the other hand, needs this win. Heâs coming off a frustrating loss to Jose âRayoâ Valenzuela in Augustâone that cost him his WBO title. For a guy known for his aggressive, power-punching style, that defeat stung.
Now, heâs on a mission to remind people why they call him âPitbull.â
âYouâre going to see a hungrier âPitbullââa âPitbullâ off the chain,â Cruz said.
He also made it clear that his decision to walk away from the Ryan Garcia fight had nothing to do with fear.
âI wasnât going to lose focus on Fierro,â he explained. âThis fight is my priority, and Iâm going to make sure itâs Fight of the Year material.â
The Bottom Line: Expect Fireworks
With both fighters coming in with something to prove, this fight has war written all over it.
Cruz wants redemption. Fierro wants respect.
The Mexican fighting spirit is legendary, and when you put two warriors with that kind of heart in the same ring, the result is usually unforgettable.
Most fans will tune in for the Benavidez vs. Morrell main event, but donât be surprised if they walk away talking about Cruz vs. Fierro instead.
Both fighters want this fight to be special. Now, all thatâs left is for them to prove it.
Will they deliver a Fight of the Year candidate? Weâll find out Saturday night.
Read More: Vanderbilt Top 25 Ranking Secured for First Time in a Decade