Trainer, commentator and fight analyst Teddy Atlas has revealed his expectations of how Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz would perform against two of his three fellow super-lightweight champions, after the Mexican realised his dream of claiming world honours last weekend.
Cruz knocked out Rolando Romero on the Tim Tszyu vs. Sebatian Fundora card to become WBA super-lightweight champion and almost instantly there were talks of unification bouts, due to Cruz supposedly being easier to negotiate with than the man he beat.
On Pro Box TV, Atlas offered his verdict on how clashes between Cruz and both Devin Haney (WBC) and Teofimo Lopez (WBO) could play out, in what now must be considered as one of boxing’s hottest divisions.
“Haney is a sharpshooter. Haney is the guy on the outside, he owns the outside, he would look to throw some of those laser shots, straight right-hands, short shots, uppercuts.
“He has got a real good uppercut has Haney and Cruz could be susceptible to that punch, being that he could lean forward a little bit and because he’s always coming [forward].
“He is dependable and that is where dependability can work against you, where you start to become a guy that is predictable.
“I’d like to see him in with Teofimo. He is up and down, hot and cold, you don’t know which Teofimo you are going to get. But, Teofimo can punch and Cruz is the kind of guy that you probably have got a much better chance of beating him if you can get his respect.”
Aside from Haney and Lopez, IBF title-holder Subriel Matias has also been linked to a unification showdown with Cruz, although he must first defend his belt against undefeated Australian contender, Liam Paro, who he faces in June.