Tough lightweight contender Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz fully supports Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez’s decision to face Jermell Charlo on September 30th in Las Vegas. The contest will be carried by Showtime Pay-Per-View.
Canelo is the undisputed world champion at super middleweight, while Charlo is the undisputed champion two divisions south.
Initially, Canelo was going to face the bigger Jermall Charlo, who holds the WBC title at 160-pounds. The Mexican star was notified that Jermall, inactive for over two years, would not be ready for such a fight in September.
Jermell is widely regarded as the more talented brother – and he’s been the more active and more accomplished of the twins.
Cruz believes Charlo accepted the fight because he’s confident of winning.
“I think that if Charlo took on this challenge it is because he knows that he can cause an upset,” Cruz said. “We are going to get a great fight because Charlo is also very strong, seasoned and more than anything he’s motivated.”
Cruz explains that Canelo, based on his standing in the sport, has earned the right to pick and choose his opponents. He recognizes that a second of the fanbase is upset, because they want Canelo to face David Benavidez.
“Canelo is going to reiterate why he’s one of the best or quite possibly the top pound for pound fighter in the sport,” Cruz said.
“I think he has done all of the [fights] that people have wanted to see. Right now, they are attacking him because he has not faced or has not wanted to face Benavidez. He has the right, at this moment, to pick and choose who he fights with. So, he hasn’t made bad decisions, he has made good decisions, I don’t think Charlo is just anyone.”
Cruz, who works with Eddy Reynoso of Team Canelo, will return to the ring on July 29 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The rival will be Giovanni Cabrera, and the fight will be part of the Showtime Pay-Per-View undercard to the Errol Spence vs. Terence Crawford welterweight unification.