Isaac Cruz vs. Lamont Roach Planned as PPV Headliner, But is an Interim Title Worth the Price?

A fight between WBC interim light welterweight champion Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz and Lamont Roach is in the works for pay-per-view for December 6 or December 20. PBC is reportedly working on the fight, which will headline with Texas a possibility.

Is This Fight PPV-Worthy?

Surprisingly, PBC is planning on making Cruz vs. Roach as the headliner on PBC, given that it’s only for Cruz’s WBC interim 140-lb title. Fans won’t be happy paying to see two fighters battle for an interim strap on pay-per-view. Unless the undercard is stacked, this event may not generate many ticket sales.

Dan Rafael is reporting that the Cruz-Roach fight is being planned. Roach (25-1-2, 10 KOs) will move up from lightweight to challenge ‘Pitbull’ for his WBC interim 140-lb title. Roach, 30, is still riding high from his 12-round majority draw against Gervonta Davis earlier this year on March 1.

Light Welterweight Contenders Snubbed

There’s no word as to why Roach is being used rather than one of the contenders from the WBC’s top 15 rankings at light welterweight. It would make more sense to allow one of these fighters to be given the shot at Cruz’s interim strap:

Alberto Puello
Sandor Martin
Lindolfo Delgado
Adam Azim
Oscar Duarte
Jamaine Ortiz

WBA Title Gathers Dust

The WBA still hasn’t stripped Roach of his super featherweight title. His last defense of that title was 15 months ago, beating Feargal McCrory by an eighth-round technical knockout on June 28, 2024.

I bet the contenders in the WBA’s top 15 at 130 are irate right about now, seeing Roach (25-1-2, 10 KOs) freeze his title while he goes and collects paychecks out of the division at lightweight and now light welterweight.

WBA’s Inaction Under Fire

The WBA needs to take action to free up the belt if Roach sits on the title without defending it. The sanctioning bodies should have a rule that automatically strips champions who temporarily move up or down in weight to get paydays, as it’s not fair to the contenders. Their careers are being put on hold while Roach roams the divisions above for purses.

Cruz (28-3-1, 18 KOs) captured the WBC interim title on July 19, 2025, beating Omar Salcido by a 10-round unanimous decision. The scores were 100-88, 99-89, and 99-89.