Lamont Roach says he has his eyes on three fights \u201cafter\u201d he beats WBC interim light welterweight champion Isaac \u2018Pitbull\u2019 Cruz this Saturday night in San Antonio, Texas.<\/p>\n
Already Looking Past Cruz<\/p>\n
Roach (25-1-2, 10 KOs) states that he wants a straight title shot against WBC 140-lb champion Surbriel Matias after he detrones Cruz (28-3-1, 18 KOs). Given how Lamont has struggled in the past at 130, it\u2019s presumptuous on his part to be already viewing the Cruz fight as a sure-thing win.<\/p>\n
Roach never looked elite-level at super featherweight. He just had that one recent fight against a distracted, spaced-out-looking Gervonta Davis last March, in which he appeared impressive. That poor performance by Tank may have been a sign that he had lost his motivation for the sport, rather than a signal that Roach was exceptional that night.<\/p>\n
Living Off the Tank Draw<\/p>\n
With all the talking Roach has done, he\u2019s going to look bad in the eyes of fans if he loses to \u2018Pitbull\u2019 Cruz on Saturday night in their headliner at the Frost Bank Center. He\u2019s really gotten a lot of mileage out of his 12-round draw against Tank, going on a victory lap for the last eight months, even though he didn\u2019t win. You don\u2019t usually see fighters act like that. It shows how lackluster Roach\u2019s career has been.<\/p>\n
Backup Plan: Shakur at 135<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we don\u2019t get the Shakur, then of course, we\u2019re looking at Subriel because we\u2019re going to be in line for it. We\u2019re going to press the issue. \u2018We\u2019re the interim champion. We want to fight. Give us a time frame, a timeline, and we\u2019ll go from there,\u201d said Lamont Roach to All the Smoke<\/a> about wanting an immediate title shot against WBC light welterweight champion Subriel Matias if he defeats Isaac Cruz on Saturday.<\/p>\n What he\u2019s really hoping for is that he\u2019ll be elevated to the new WBC champion after Matias tested positive for a banned substance recently.<\/p>\n Roach\u2019s Confidence or Delusion?<\/p>\n If neither of those things happens, Roach says he\u2019ll return to 135 to face Shakur Stevenson for his WBC lightweight title. Shakur is coming back to lightweight, followed by a dark cloud if he loses his January 31st fight against WBO light welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez. Fighting Shakur under those conditions wouldn\u2019t be ideal for Roach, but he may be needy if he loses to Cruz.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a masterclass of boxing from my end. It\u2019s going to be fan-friendly for sure. It wouldn\u2019t be super fan-friendly without \u2018Pitbull\u2019 Cruz, the guy that\u2019s in there with me,\u201d said Roach. \u201cI really like a fight against Gary Antuanne Russell at 140 as well. I really like that fight.\u201d<\/p>\n Bob Smith has been writing for Boxing News 24 since 2008, making him one of the site\u2019s longest-serving contributors. With well over a decade of experience, he has established himself as a senior boxing writer who delivers reliable coverage of the global fight scene.<\/p>\n Bob\u2019s work includes fight reports, news pieces, and features that highlight both world champions and rising contenders, giving fans a clear view of the sport\u2019s past and present. Known for his consistency, accuracy, and deep understanding of boxing, Bob remains a trusted voice for readers looking to stay informed on the worldwide fight game.<\/p>\n