While American-Cuban WBA middleweight (160 lbs) champion Erislandy Lara and Kazakh unified [WBO & IBF] champion Janibek Alimkhanuly are preparing for their December 6 bout, the upcoming fight has been confirmed to be co-headliners of the headlining bout between Isaac Cruz and Lamont Roach Jr. Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) will be promoting the upcoming card through their proxy TGB Promotions at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Mexican WBC interim super lightweight (140 lbs) champion Cruz will be defending his WBC title against American contender Roach in a title bout that has somehow become the top billing over the more relevant unification bout between Lara (17-0, 12 KO’s) and Alimkhanuly (31-3-3, 19 KO’s).
The presence of Alimkhanuly on a PBC card can be considered a massive coup for the promotional company given Alimkhanuly is currently signed to rival Top Rank but both competing fighters do not appear to be in as high esteem as Cruz and Roach by the PBC.
It is possible the main billing of the Cruz-Roach fight is part of a more long-term strategy by PBC where the winner will potentially face PBC franchise fighter Gervonta Davis (30-0-1, 28 KO’s) who is set to participate in an exhibition bout with Jake Paul on November 14.
Davis, 30, is currently the WBA lightweight (135 lbs) champion but with a second fight between him and Roach having been foiled by Davis’ upcoming bout against Paul, a rematch at 140 lbs with Roach as the (interim) champion would be an enticing event. Davis and Roach previously clashed earlier this year in a contest that ended in a controversial majority decision (MD) draw.
A potential fight with Cruz, if he would come out on top, could also be on the cards for Davis who has also previously fought Cruz and could stage a rematch just as relevant as a second bout between Davis and Roach. The first fight between Isaac Cruz and Gervonta Davis held on December 2 in 2021 turned out to be a surprisingly competitive fight despite Cruz coming in at two weeks’ notice, greatly boosting the eventuality of a rematch between the two.
Complementing the event on the undercard will be another title fight between American WBC super featherweight (130 lbs) champion O’Shaquie Foster and countryman Stephen Fulton.
As fitting for a PBC contest, at least two title fights on the card appear to be stagnating two divisions as it is still unknown whether Roach will retain his WBA title at featherweight (126 lbs) for his upcoming 140 lbs contest, while Fulton also still holds the WBC title at 126 pounds ― the same division as Lamont Roach ― while being set to fight at 130 pounds.
