Pacquiao welcomes WBA world champion Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz as MP Promotion’s newest talent

Photo: Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz, Manny Pacquiao, and Sean Gibbons

BOXING icon Manny Pacquiao is very proud and thrilled about Mexican Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz’s latest achievement of being the first ever world boxing champion of the MP Promotions outside the Philippines.

Pacquiao was pleased to see the 25-year-old Cruz of Hermosillo, Mexico, progress from 2019, when he first signed with Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions, to winning the World Boxing Association (WBA) Super Lightweight belt last Sunday. “So glad to see Mexican Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz rose to the occasion to become a world titleholder under our promotion,” the 45-year-old eight-division world champion said in a statement expressing his appreciation for the sacrifices and hard work of the Mexican fighter.

“He [Cruz] is a testament to a true hardworking warrior. His boxing skills, power, and speed are honed by years of his sacrifice in training and learning. MP Promotions is very proud of his accomplishment,” Pacquiao added.

Cruz, who is sporting a 26-2-1 win-loss-draw record with 18 knockouts, dethroned American Rolando Romero behind his flurry of powerful punches en route to his eight-round technical knockout victory last Sunday that seized the WBA crown at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

MP Promotion President Sean Gibbons, also a well-known international matchmaker, said Pacquiao and Cruz have a lot of things in common, not only both of them as an excellent professional boxer but also for being both a family man.

“When they met, Sir Manny said this gentleman is so humble, a family man, and loves spending time with his kids and wife. He doesn’t smoke, he doesn’t drink, he doesn’t make any bad habits similar to the senators, and both of them are great persons,” said Gibbons, referring to Cruz.

Gibbons added that Cruz was the first fighter they signed outside the Philippines in 2019 and the first boxer from Mexico. They successfully developed from becoming a world champion.

“Manny Pacquiao is thrilled to promote the newest face of Mexican boxing, Isaac Pitbull Cruz. When I showed him, Isaac Cruz, he was thrilled and said this is the real guy. This guy has the hit, has the style, and he got everything,” he added.

Gibbons said the MP Promotions has also acknowledged the historic Hispanic ties between the Philippines and Mexico, especially regarding boxing. That’s why Pacquiao appreciates the talents and courage of every fighter from both countries.

“Mexico and the Philippines have a great history together in boxing. Manny Pacquiao had so much great history with his fights with Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez,” Gibbons explained.