A sense of utter disbelief washed over Isaac Cruz’s face. It took him some time to realize that his reign as world champion had come to an end. This marked the end of ‘Pitbull’s’ dreams when José ‘El Rayo’ Valenzuela handed him his third career loss. For Cruz, the situation became critical – he badly needed a win to reassert himself among the division’s elite.

And he accomplished it with élan. At the T-Mobile Arena tonight, fighting on the Benavidez-Morrell undercard, Cruz followed his corner’s game plan to perfection and defeated fellow Mexican Angel ‘Tashiro’ Fierro by unanimous decision. Although it was a ten-round, non-title fight, Cruz’s convincing win may have silenced the naysayers who had raised concerns about his form following the loss to Valenzuela. A strong performance, as always, brings rewards. Cruz’s latest victory sparked a flurry of discussion about his next move. Even some A-listers chimed in.

Isaac Cruz has an opportunity

Ring Magazine shared a screenshot of comments from Keyshawn Davis and Ryan Garcia that followed Cruz’s victory. Davis, who is set to challenge for the WBO lightweight title against Denys Berinchyk on Valentine’s Day, seemed eager for a potential showdown with Cruz. Garcia, however, didn’t seem as impressed. “I’m not gonna lie, after I get my belt, I would love to fight Isaac Cruz. He a dawg & I’m a dawg would be a great fight. 💪🏾,” said ‘The Businessman.’ However, for ‘KingRy,’ Cruz remained a ‘target practice.’ Incidentally, reports had initially suggested a potential Garcia-Cruz matchup on the Riyadh Season card, but that changed.

While Cruz took on Fierro, Garcia will face Rolando Romero, whom Cruz demolished last year, once his suspension ends in April. So, if Keyshawn Davis is eager to fight Cruz, the question remains: Is he willing to move up a division, or does he expect Cruz to step down to his level?

Suggestions are already circulating regarding who Cruz should face next. One common suggestion is a potential rematch with José Valenzuela.

More doors are opening for the ‘Pitbull’

‘El Rayo’ is scheduled for his title defense on March 1, on the Gervonta Davis–Lamont Roach Jr. PBC-Amazon Prime card, where he will take on Gary Antuanne Russell. So, if Valenzuela wins, perhaps the two could meet again. However, not everyone agrees with this idea. To some, since Valenzuela has already beaten Cruz, a rematch doesn’t make sense.

Given the thrilling, potential ‘Fight of the Year’ contender they displayed tonight, a rematch with Fierro seems like the more exciting option. But here’s the question – what purpose would that serve for Cruz, especially if there’s no significant payday or title on the line?

A few believe that Cruz’s aggressive style could be a perfect matchup against the high-octane William Zepeda. But once again, the question arises: Would the unbeaten Zepeda, possibly facing Shakur Stevenson at 135 pounds, be willing to risk his own chances at light welterweight?

If Cruz stays in the lightweight division, a fight with Subriel Matias could be interesting. Matias, whose undefeated reign was broken by Liam Paro last year, is seeking redemption. A victory over someone like ‘Pitbull’ Cruz could push him back into the top ranks.

This win has once again opened up pathways for Cruz. However, if he wants to make a breakthrough this year, he’ll need to choose his next fight wisely.

What about you? Who do you think is the most suitable opponent for Isaac Cruz’s next fight?