Isaac Cruz vs. Nestor Bravo: 'Pitbull' promises an all-out war in San Diego, then a run at Dalton Smith's belt

It didn’t take long for Isaac Cruz (28-3-2, 18 KOs) to corner boxing’s North American market. The 28-year-old, who fights like his nickname “Pitbull” suggests, is a fan-friendly performer in the ring regardless of whether that canvas was in Mexico City, Southern California, Las Vegas or Texas. Where there’s Cruz, there’s Pitbull-mania.

He returns to the ring Saturday for a headline fight against Nestor Bravo (24-1, 17 KOs) at San Diego’s Pechanga Arena on DAZN — a defense of Cruz’s interim WBC super lightweight title.

But Cruz isn’t settling for the South and the West. He wants to take his show worldwide.

“Why not fight Dalton Smith (19-0, 14 KOs) in England?” Cruz told Uncrowned days before he fights Bravo on Saturday.

Smith is the WBC’s full champion in the division having won the belt with a fifth-round technical knockout of Subriel Matias on Jan. 10. Smith fights Alberto Puello in a defense of that title Oct. 4 at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England. 

Though Cruz insists he’s focused on Bravo, he “foresees no problem” defeating him to set up a clash with the Smith-Puello winner.

“It would be awesome to be able to go fight in England with the great crowds there and do the unthinkable,” he said. “Go over there, pull off that feat to win the belt, and bring it back home.”

Isaac Cruz, 28, moved up from lightweight only recently and gives up 5 inches in height to Nestor Bravo.

Cruz faces size disadvantages heading into his weekend fight before he can think about calling out Smith. 

Bravo, at 5-foot-9, is 5 inches taller than “Pitbull” and accustomed to competing at super lightweight. The Puerto Rican has spent his entire career at 140 pounds, while Cruz has only recently moved up from lightweight. 

Bravo carries momentum into the San Diego ring, too, considering the left hook he landed on Pedro Campa in January. It was a shot that secured him a second-round knockout win and put him on the industry’s radar heading into his fight with Cruz.

Regardless, he’s a considerable underdog. And he insists he’s going to meet Cruz head-on rather than box cautiously. “He likes to fight just like I do,” he said recently in a statement sent to Uncrowned.

After losing a split decision to Jose Valenzuela in 2024, Cruz rebounded by winning a Fight of the Year contender against Angel Fierro the following year. He beat Omar Salcido, too, only to share a majority draw with Lamont Roach at the end of 2025.

Cruz then wanted to make a change and so he leaned on a relationship that began when he was around 21 years old when an acquaintance of his arranged a meeting with Eddy Reynoso, the revered trainer and manager who has helped steer Saul “Canelo” Alvarez to superstardom from his House of Boxing base in San Diego.

“I wanted to work with Eddy because of his experience and the tremendous job he’s done with ‘Canelo,'” Cruz said. “His ability to understand fighters, both mentally and technically, and to read each situation, has allowed him to reach the top of the sport.”

It’s not just Alvarez whom Reynoso has coached, having helped Oscar Valdez, Ryan Garcia and Andy Ruiz, too. Even Teofimo Lopez, a fighter Cruz has one eye on for a possible fight in the near future. 

The foundation for Reynoso’s approach rests on principles of discipline, responsibility and perseverance. He places a specific technical emphasis on the footwork of old-school icons like Willie Pep and “Sugar Ray” Robinson, distance control through coordinated waist movement and leg work, and defensive improvement through full-body synchronization.

With the way Alvarez fights, which is to maximize the efficiency of his punching rather than rely on volume, we couldn’t help but ask if Reynoso was going to try and put the all-action “Pitbull” on a leash.

“I know I have my limitations,” he said. “This is a way for me to expand on things, and adapt to the circumstances. I’ll always be the same ‘Pitbull’ Cruz that you saw thrive against Gervonta Davis and Roach. And I’ll still be aggressive on Sept. 19.”

“I’ll gather the best of both worlds — his and mine — to bring the victory home,” he said.

“This is the start of a new era for ‘Pitbull’ Cruz. I’m always glad to work with good people, and this camp has been about preparation and good vibes.

“Saturday is going to be an all-out war,” he added. “I want to make a statement and leave no doubt that I deserve to fight the winner of Smith vs. Puello, or any champion in the division — Teofimo, Ryan Garcia, or Gary Antuanne Russell.”