Jose Valenzuela shocks Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz for WBA junior welter title

08/03/2024 11:23 PM

LOS ANGELES — Once he heard, "… and new," Jose Valenzuela raised his hands, closed his eyes, and kneeled to the canvas in ecstasy. The rangy, 5-foot-10 southpaw used his range, stayed with a game plan, and did something not many thought he could do—beat Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz.

The 25-year-old Valenzuela (14-2, 9 knockouts) beat Cruz by split-decision to win the WBA junior welterweight title on Saturday night at BMO Stadium, in Los Angeles, California.

Judges Rudy Barragan (116-112) and Eddie Hernandez (115-113) ruled in favor of Valenzuela, overriding the scorecard of Pat Russell (116-112 for Cruz).

"I'm speechless, speechless for a dream that came true," Valenzuela said. "I just had to be smart. I didn't get desperate. I did not fall under the pressure. I just stayed calm. I felt great, I felt I was in control the whole time, using my speed, using my footwork. This is for my mom and dad and all the sacrifices they made."

CompuBox stats bore out Valenzuela's victory. Valenzuela outlanded Cruz, 171(37)/516 (33%) to 118 (63)/521, a 53-punch difference. He outlanded Cruz in power punches, 138 (36)/337 to 112 (61)/413. According to CompuBox, Valenzuela achieved double digits in landed punches in 11 of the 12 rounds while Cruz reached double digits in 5 of the 12 rounds.

The judges agreed in just three rounds, the first (Cruz), seventh and 10th. On Russell's scorecard, Valenzuela won five of the last six rounds, and Barragan had Valenzuela winning four of the last six.

Obviously, Cruz (26-3-1, 18 KOs) thought he won the fight.

"Just listen to this crowd," he said. "They are the judges; not me. I just have to do my job and let everyone else decide. I would like to officially request a rematch. I would definitely like to throw that down."

In the opening seconds, the 5-foot-10 Valenzuela tried to use his 7-inch southpaw reach advantage to good use and keep Cruz off him with the jab, though he did not matter. Cruz burrowed in and landed cutting, wide shots at Valenzuela.

Cruz is tough to pinpoint. He is small to begin with, made even smaller with his crouching, forward approach.

Ten seconds into the second, Cruz had Valenzuela backed into a corner, striking him with a barrage of shots, a few of which banged his head. Cruz is not averse of winging lead rights from his crouched position. With :27 seconds in the second, Cruz popped Valenzuela with a right to the face.

Valenzuela opened the third better than he had the previous two rounds. He kept Cruz away with his jab, and was his size and distance. A few seconds later, Cruz closed the distance and started coming again. He began landing the left uppercut as Cruz neared. It was the first good round Valenzuela had, landing the jab, and getting out of the way of the hard-charging Cruz.

Could Valenzuela keep it up?

Valenzuela used the size again in the fourth, though with a minute into the round, Cruz did manage to bear in and connect. But Valenzuela, for the second-straight round, did well in keep Cruz away and land the jab.

After four, the fight could have arguably been even at two rounds apiece.

In the fifth, Valenzuela had Cruz flailing and missing horribly. Cruz tried coming at Valenzuela like a great crab, with its arcing, clutching claws. But he was getting hit and outboxing Cruz.

Between the fourth and fifth, Cruz's corner implored him to be more patient, do not get desperate. Valenzuela seemed to be frustrating Cruz.

Entering the sixth, it turned into a competitive fight. With 1:03 left in the fifth, Valenzuela landed a right uppercut right on Cruz's chin that buckled his knees.

Cruz did not seem to have a Plan B. He continued to try and burrow his way in and was getting timed by Valenzuela, who was landing the uppercuts. He kept away when Cruz would lower his head and swing wildly at him.

Valenzuela, showing great ring generalship, landed a left uppercut in Cruz's gut with 1:33 left in the seventh. Cruz ate the shot. Though it scored. By the end of the round, Valenzuela was backing up Cruz.

In the eighth, Cruz closed some distance. But Cruz was relying on one punch. Valenzuela was nailing Cruz with combinations. Halfway through the eighth, Valenzuela put on a master performance, hitting Cruz at will, and then getting out of the way. He closed the round with Cruz against the ropes.

In the ninth, Cruz landed a punishing left hook that forced Valenzuela's head to swerve. Valenzuela fought smartly again in the 10th, though Cruz connected with a big right to the body.

Possibly sensing he may be in some trouble, Cruz launched himself at Valenzuela in the opening minute of the 11th. Before Valenzuela came out for the 11th, he was told by his corner he had two more rounds for a title. CompuBox stats favored Valenzuela. In the closing seconds of the 11th, Cruz tagged Valenzuela and had him in some trouble. Valenzuela was able to last the round, but Cruz's straight right added some drama to the last round.

With 2:05 left in the last round, Cruz popped Valenzuela's head back with a straight right. Valenzuela landed a right uppercut with 1:30 left in the fight. Valenzuela closed well, though Cruz may have done enough to win the last round.

Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter who has been working for Ring Magazine/RingTV.com since October 1997 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.

Follow @JSantoliquito

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