Valenzuela: Cruz Can’t Handle Advanced Boxing Strategies

NEW YORK — José Valenzuela dismissed Isaac Cruz‘s criticisms following their competitive bout six months ago in Los Angeles. Valenzuela argues that Cruz, who claims he was evaded by Valenzuela throughout their WBA title fight at 140 pounds, is struggling to accept the reality that he could not counter Valenzuela’s more versatile southpaw boxing style.

The bout, which occurred on August 3 at BMO Stadium, saw judges awarding Valenzuela eight rounds, securing a 116-112 victory while Cruz received a score of 115-113 from one judge. Valenzuela stated, “He doesn’t understand. It’s like math. He is stuck on the basics; there is algebra, geometry, and he doesn’t process it because he can’t.”

Valenzuela, whose record stands at 14-2 with 9 knockouts, will defend his newly acquired WBA title against Gary Antuanne Russell (17-1, 17 knockouts) this Saturday night in the co-main event at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. This fight precedes Gervonta “Tank” Davis’ title defense against Lamont Roach, set for 8 p.m. ET.

“In the latter half of the fight, it was him who was backing up,” Valenzuela recalled. “I was moving left and right. He could not figure out my strategy. I’ve studied fighters like Pitbull my entire life, so I prepared well.”

Valenzuela’s change in style from a power puncher to a strategic boxer was validated when he outperformed Cruz. Despite his previous losses, including a knockout defeat in September 2022 against Edwin De Los Santos, Valenzuela recognized he had become overly reliant on his punching power.

“I found my sweet spot and was knocking out opponents,” Valenzuela admitted. “I became a bit enamored with that, but I needed to return to boxing.”

During the fight against Cruz, Valenzuela effectively utilized short-range uppercuts and body shots, showcasing his adaptability. “I have many dimensions in my style,” he added. “I used to be more of a stylist but needed to make a drastic change to rediscover myself.”

As he approaches the defense of his title, Valenzuela acknowledges the pride of showcasing his varied skills and the importance of executing a strategic plan in the ring. “With the fight against Cruz, I needed to display my abilities, different dimensions, and my experience,” he explained.