Cruz vs Roach ends in controversial draw

WBC Interim Light Welterweight Champion Isaac “Pit Bull” Cruz, 28-3-2 (18) fought to a 12-round majority draw against Lamont Roach, Jr. on Saturday night at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. (25-1-3 (10)).

In the first round it was a draw with Cruz the aggressor. Roach landed a left hook and knocked Cruz off balance in the final minute. In the second round it was close again.

In the third round, a left hook from Cruz Roach floated across the ring, causing referee James Green to give him an 8 count. In the fourth round, Cruz landed a low blow and was warned. He came back and landed double left hooks to the body and head of Roach.

In the fifth round, Roach holds his own in a close fight. In the sixth round it was another close one with both left hooks to the chin. In the seventh round, with a minute left, referee Green took a point from Cruz for another low blow.

In the eighth round, Roach knocked out Cruz. In the ninth round, Cruz had a small cut outside his right eye from left hooks by Roach, who outworked him. In the tenth round, Roach continues to knock out Cruz.

In the eleventh round’s final seconds, they traded punches, with Roach having the upper hand. In the twelfth and final lap it was close, but Roach took the lap with his hand speed.

The scores were 115-111 Cruz, 113-113 and 113-113.

In the co-main event, WBC World Super Featherweight Champion “Ice Water” Shaquie Foster (24-3 (12) won a lopsided 12-round unanimous decision over WBC World Featherweight Champion Stephen “Cool Boy Steph” Fulton (23-2 (8)) to win the WBC interim lightweight title.

In the first round, Fulton came in overweight, so he could not win the title. He knocked Foster out in the round. In the second round, Fulton had the edge. In the third, Foster came back to work on Fulton.

In the fourth through sixth rounds, Foster turned southpaw, with a lead. In the seventh round, Fulton only landed one punch. In the ninth, Foster reverted to orthodox and took another round.

In the tenth round it was all Foster, even as Fulton landed first, Foster countered. In the eleventh round, Foster went back to southpaw dominating. In the twelfth and final round, Foster continued his winning ways with an easy victory.

The scores were 117-111, 118-110 and 119-109. Jon Schorle was the referee.

Jesus “El Mono” Alejandro Ramos, Jr. (24-1 (19) defeated Shane Mosley, Jr. (22-5 (12)) by a 12-round unanimous decision to win the WBC Interim Middleweight title.

In the first two rounds, Mosley knocked Ramos out, except he took a right hook to the chin near the end of the round. In the third round, Ramos’ hands up don’t stop Mosley from punching him in the face. Ramos rocked Mosley with a left to the chin in the first minute, as Mosley continued to work.

In the fourth round, Ramos rocked Mosley with a right hook midway through the round and took the round. In the fifth round’s final minute, Mosley rocked Ramos with a right to the chin. In the sixth round, Mosley landed more blows than in any of the previous rounds.

In the seventh round, Ramos used his jab to take the round. In the eighth round, both have their moments with Ramos landing a pair of lefts to the chin with a minute left. In the ninth round, Mosley landed a slashing right when Ramos countered with a left of his own in the best round of the fight so far.

In the tenth round, it was a big round for Ramos.

In the eleventh round, Ramos countered Mosley with a left to the chin. Mosley came back well, but not enough to take the round. In the twelfth and final round, both let it all hang out with Mosley rocking Ramos with a right in the final minute, but Ramos took the round.

The scores were 116-112, 117-111 and 117-111. Laurence Cole was the referee.

Two-division world champion and current WBA middleweight champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara (32-3-3 (19) easily defeated late sub Johan “The Chelo Manotas” Gonzalez (36-5 (34)) with a 12-round unanimous decision.

In the first round, Gonzalez was a late sub who was dropped with a minute left by a chop from Lara on the chin for an 8 count from referee Mark Nelson. In the second round, Lara continued to outscore Gonzalez. In the fourth and fifth rounds, Lara beat Gonzalez, except that he was against the ropes several times.

In the sixth round, Gonzalez would have Lara against the ropes on occasion, only to have Lara reverse and take over. In the seventh round, Gonzalez would throw bombs with few of them landing. Lara landed the jab almost at will. In the eighth round, they butted heads on several occasions, with Lara getting the better of them.

From the ninth to the eleventh, Lara controlled with his jab. In the twelfth and final rounds, the last seconds, Lara left an edge on the chin, and Gonzalez, who barely beat the score of referee Nelson.

The judges’ scores were 118-108, 119-107 and 120-106

Light Welterweight Frank “The Ghost” Martin (19-1 (13) knocked out former 2-Division World Champion Rance “Kid Blast” Barthelemy (30-4-1 (15)) at 2:56 of the fourth of a scheduled 10 round.

In the fourth round, Martin took Barthelemy down twice and ended the fight with referee James Green counting him out.

Junior middleweight Isaac “Puro Mexico” Lucero (17-0 (13) knocked out Roberto “El Viejo, Jr.” Valenzuela, Jr. (31-5 (29)) at 2:59 of the eighth of a scheduled 10 round, referee Mark Nelson.

Featherweight Luis “The TWIST” Reynaldo Nunez (22-0 (14) defeated Hector “La Maquinita” Andres Sosa (18-4 (9)) by unanimous decision over 10 rounds.

The scores were 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94. Jon Schorle was the referee.

The ring announcer was Jimmy Lennon, Jr.