By Alan Dawson
A potential rematch between Isaac Cruz and Gervonta Davis would take place in 2025.
According to ‘Pitbull’ Cruz’s manager, Sean Gibbons, who said Boxing News This week, a second fight with ‘Tank’ Davis is probably just a matter of time as the fighter continues to attract a significant fan base.
The 26-year-old must first defeat his next opponent, Jose Valenzuela, who he faces on Saturday at the 22,000-capacity BMO Arena in Los Angeles — the main event of Terence Crawford’s return to the ring against Israil Madrimov at the first Riyadh Season event in the United States.
“It’s a terrible place,” Gibbons told us. “When you come to LA, it’s an extension of Mexico.”
Gibbons said Mexican fight fans turned out in droves to support Cruz at the Staples Center in 2021, as he became one of the few fighters to take ‘Tank’ to a decision, only to lose by a narrow margin on the scorecards. “There’s Pitbull fever here,” he said.
“Either you have the ‘It’ factor, or you don’t. And he does. And I believe our fight with Valenzuela will be the real main event.
“It’s a current feature,” Gibbons told us, “but it’s the Mike Tyson of Mexico. Everything he throws is with bad intentions. And that’s the kind of fighter people want to see fight.”
A win over Valenzuela, in a fight where Gibbons saw his opponent with a similar but determined Mexican style, could put Cruz in line for that ‘Tank’ rematch.
“I see us getting that opportunity by 2025,” said Gibbons.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 15: WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis (R) punches Frank Martin during their championship match at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on June 15, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Davis retained his title with an eighth-round knockout. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
In recent fights, Davis has grown in popularity as in his last five fights he has defeated Cruz, Rolando Romero, Hector Luis Garcia, Ryan Garcia and Frank Martin.
“Gervonta is doing his thing, and we’re doing ours,” Gibbons told us.
Even though there are still five months left in the year, that’s unlikely to happen in 2024, Gibbons said. That’s because Tank has been linked to a return to the ring later in the year to fight Shakur Stevenson, and Gibbons wants to fight Cruz again in December against an opponent yet to be determined.
But then the path could open up to securing a significant bonus against Davis, one of boxing’s brightest faces.
“I really hope we can meet again in 2025.”
