Darshan Desai Uncrowned Updated Sun, Sep 20, 2026 About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz could be headed for a showdown with Ryan Garcia after knocking out Nestor Bravo in Round 6 of their WBC interim super lightweight title fight Saturday night at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego.
"Hey, Ryan, I'm here. My next fight for you. Come on, Ryan," Cruz (29-3-2, 19 KOs) said after dominating Bravo in a messy affair to make a successful second defense of his WBC interim title.
Garcia told Uncrowned this past Monday after his early knockout win over Conor Benn that he wanted a fast turnaround for his ring return in December or January and named Cruz as an opponent he'd like to face.
After Cruz responded positively on Saturday, Garcia reiterated his desire to make a matchup that'd pit a beloved Mexican against an extremely popular Mexican American.
"Bravo pit bull [sic] proved me wrong tonight," Garcia said on social media, responding to Cruz's callout.
"Let's do this in December the offer is on the table.
"I can tame a lion I'm not to concerned about taming a pit bull [sic]."
While Garcia-Cruz could prove to be an all-action fight, Cruz's victory over Bravo (24-2, 17 KOs) was anything but. Bravo lost two points during the foul-ridden, ugly contest — one for holding and another for throwing Cruz onto the canvas.
"Mom said there'd be days like this," referee Thomas Taylor, who deserved every penny of what he got paid Saturday, was heard saying between Rounds 4 and 5.
Bravo committed at least a dozen rule infractions during the six-round contest. From excessive holding to low-blows to throwing "Pitbull" around the ring, there was nothing Bravo didn't do in the fight to try to get himself disqualified. In Round 2, he even lifted Cruz off the ground before turning him and tossing him onto the floor.
Taylor told Bravo he was one foul away from a disqualification loss before Round 5 and that he wouldn't be paid. Bravo consequently cleaned up his act in Rounds 5 and 6.
In Round 6, Cruz landed a perfect lead left hook on Bravo, crushing him to the canvas.
The Puerto Rican waited for Taylor's 10-second count to finish before getting up and proceeded to complain about the stoppage.
Cruz had set up the finishing punch by feinting with a number of jabs to disguise the lead hook. It was a clever tactic from the interim champion, who dominated all six rounds of the contest.
Check out complete Cruz vs. Bravo results and highlights below, as well as Uncrowned's play-by-play of the main card.
WBC interim super lightweight title: Isaac Cruz def. Nestor Bravo via sixth-round KO | Watch video
Super middleweight: Daniel Blancas def. Sergio Jimenez via seventh-round TKO | Watch video
Middleweight: Marco Verde def. Guillermo Hernandez via fifth-round TKO | Watch video
Middleweight: Eumir Marcial def. Omar Ulises Huerta via third-round TKO | Watch video
Four fights, 21 rounds, and I'm not sure I gave a single one to the B-side, except for the knockdown called against Marco Verde, which wasn't really a knockdown. Not a lot in the way of competitive fights, but four knockouts in under three hours isn't bad going.
He lands a peach of a lead left hook in the second minute of Round 6, which floored Nestor Bravo. And Bravo decided to sit out the count.
"Mom said there'd be days like this," Referee Thomas Taylor says audibly between Rounds 4 and 5. Taylor told Bravo that he is one foul away from a DQ.
Round 5 begins, and Bravo ends up on his knees. Same story, different round.
Cruz connects with a body punch. Cruz lands with two rights in the second minute. Two power shots find a home on the inside. More wrestling, holding, and dirty tactics from Bravo.
Cruz begins to let his hands go, and Bravo immediately holds again. What an ugly, foul-ridden, messy fight.
Bravo holds on to Cruz after Cruz lands a right, and then he chucks Cruz to the canvas.
The referee deducts another point from Bravo.
When is he going to realize that Bravo doesn't want to be in this fight?
Body punch from Cruz. Bravo feels it; he holds onto Cruz and pushes him onto the ropes.
Cruz is putting his punches together on the inside, and Bravo is now trying to hold onto Cruz for dear life and toss him out of the ring.
A left hand connects for Bravo – it was his best punch of the fight. Brilliant left hook counter from Cruz. And, of course, Bravo holds on again.
Referee Thomas Taylor aggressively warns Cruz and Bravo to stop all the "bulls***."
Bravo turns southpaw. This fight is so ugly.
Bravo lands a low blow after Cruz pulls his head down just before the final minute.
Another low blow from Bravo. He is just desperate to find a way out of this fight.
Thomas Taylor is earning every penny tonight.
Nice two-punch combo for Cruz. Bravo is showing no signs of offense.
Two big body shots connect on the Puerto Rican. Bravo is being bullied by Cruz. And he keeps finding a home on the canvas. Bravo finally loses a point for his antics. Nice lead hook for Cruz. Bravo lifts Cruz off the ground and throws him onto the floor.
"What is Bravo doing?" the commentary team asks.
He is close to being disqualified, and maybe that's what he wants.
More holding from Bravo as Cruz gets closer and lets his hands go. Bravo keeps clinching. A combination is thrown by Cruz. This fight is so messy.
The atmosphere is electric for this one! Cruz is the smaller man and goes on the offensive straight away. Bravo holds on almost immediately as "Pitbull" lets a shot go. They trade hooks in the opening minute. The crowd is booing Bravo already as he holds onto Cruz for a third time. He is warned by the referee. Bravo gets warned twice more already, once for pushing the head down and another for holding. HUGE left hook from Cruz. Bravo is ROCKED! He wrestles Cruz down, and they're gonna call it a knockdown. Cruz is looking to let his hands go on the inside. A fight has broken out early. Cruz with another left hook. He is barraging Bravo's head and body. Bravo holds onto Cruz and goes down again – no knockdown called. Bravo gets what sounded like a final warning for holding. What a lively start!
Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz defends his WBC interim super lightweight title against Nestor Bravo in the main event.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 18: Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz (L) of Mexico and Nestor Bravo (R) of Puerto Rico face the media during a weigh-in prior to their WBC Interim fight at the Courtyard Marriott on September 18, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Cris Esqueda/Getty Images) (Cris Esqueda via Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stoppage: OFFICIAL RESULT: Daniel Blancas TKOs Sergio Jimenez in Round 7 Although Sergio Jimenez remained tough in Rounds 5, 6, and 7, the referee would not allow Daniel Blancas to keep teeing off on him. He stopped the fight in Round 7 amid a cacophony of boos from fans who wanted to see Jimenez remain in an entertaining one-sided affair.
Blancas is pummeling Jimenez to the body to begin Round 4. Nice uppercut to the chin, and then Blancas darts to the side and rips body hooks. Lovely flurry from Blancas. Jimenez holds on, and the referee is starting to take a closer look. Blancas is putting his punches together. But here comes Jimenez with a right. The crowd is cheering on Jimenez as he lets a handful of shots go. Jimenez bites down on his gumshield and gives what could be his final effort. Into the final minute. Blancas is back on top. A lot of power punches are still connecting for him.
Nice body hook for Blancas to open Round 3 – and Jimenez is hurt downstairs again. Blancas has over two minutes to go to work. He stalks Jimenez around the ring, ripping and crunching body hooks. Jimenez is nothing more than a punching bag. Blancas is having fun in there, trying to see which power punch from which hand will finish things. Blancas unleashes at the body in the final minute. He has targeted the midsection throughout this fight. Jimenez has eaten a lot of shots there.
Jimenez is on the front foot to begin Round 2. But it doesn't last long. Left hook upstairs and then to the body. Another body punch. A left hook downstairs scores. Now, Blancas connects with a combination. Blancas is ripping heavy body hooks and power punches to the chin. Terrific left hook to the liver for Blancas, and Jimenez's right hand drops down to cover that side. Blancas looks to follow up late in Round 2, but Jimenez will survive.
Source: Sports
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