Isaac Cruz becomes new WBA champ at 140 after dismantling Rolly Romero

Trash talk is a part of selling a fight. Coming into Saturday’s fight Rolly Romero (15-2) did his best to annoy his challenger Issac Cruz (26-2-1, 18 KOs). Once the bell rang the tide shifted and it was Cruz that did the annoying as he put on a masterclass in stalking and cutting off the ring against Romero.

"I didn't want to come here and just win," said Cruz. "I wanted to massacre Rolly and make him eat all the garbage he said to me. ...I fought with the intention to leave the decision out of the judges' hands."

With the win, Cruz took Romero's WBA junior welterweight world title. Cruz dominated the fight. Romero had to be checked by the ringside doctor before heading out for the eighth round. Romero almost went down in the first round after taking a left hook to the forehead, a point was taken away from him for holding in the fifth and was again saved by the ropes in the seventh after taking a big right uppercut to the chin that essentially had him out on his feet.

Cruz is now a winner of four straight fights since his loss to Gervonta Davis. "I was prepared for this. I wasn't here to just fight. I was here to terminate him," said Cruz. "I did my talking right here in the ring. And I did this not just for me but for everybody that is here at T-Mobile Arena. There's going to be a Mexican champ at 140 pounds for a long time."