by the El Reportero staff
Nestor Bravo was stopped by Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz, but left Pechanga Arena unconvinced that Cruz possesses the punching power needed to trouble Ryan Garcia at welterweight.
Bravo said Cruz’s awkward delivery, rather than raw strength, caused trouble. Cruz’s short stature, sudden lunges and unusual angles kept Bravo from seeing several punches that landed cleanly.
“He’s not the heaviest hitter. He’s just a little uncomfortable with his height,” Bravo said after the fight. “There were a couple of shots I really didn’t see coming. It’s not that his hands are heavy. It’s the shots you don’t see coming that hurt you.”
Cruz dropped Bravo and stopped him in the sixth round. Bravo also said an accidental clash of heads affected him from the opening round, although he credited Cruz as the better fighter.
That distinction could matter if Cruz moves up from junior welterweight to face Garcia. Cruz generates force by dipping low and springing upward with hooks and overhand rights. Opponents look down to locate him, then lose sight of punches arriving below their normal line of vision.
Garcia’s upright stance presents opportunities for both fighters. His tendency to pull straight back can leave his chin exposed to Cruz’s leaping right hand. However, Garcia’s height may allow him to see Cruz dipping before attacking and respond with a left hook or uppercut.
Bravo lacked the hand speed to punish those entries consistently. Garcia does not. Cruz cannot repeatedly leap from long range without first distracting Garcia with jabs or feints.
Charging into a counter could increase the damage because Cruz’s momentum would carry him into the punch.
Physical exchanges could also prove important. Cruz uses his low center of gravity to push opponents off balance and create openings for body shots. Garcia is taller, broader and accustomed to carrying more weight. He could lean on Cruz in clinches and make his repeated lunges exhausting.
Cruz’s best chance would be to survive the early counters, crowd Garcia’s arms and force him against the ropes. But if Bravo truly felt little welterweight power, Garcia may attack confidently without fearing what comes back.
Source: Boxing 24/7 Wire.
