Pacquiao thrilled to have newest world champion under promotional stable

MANILA, Philippines – Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao expressed elation for his promotional company, MP Promotions, having its first-ever non-Filipino world champion — Mexico’s Isaac Cruz, who annexed the World Boxing Association (WBA) super lightweight title last Sunday.

Pacquiao was thrilled to see the progress of the 25-year-old Cruz from 2019 when he first signed with MP Promotions up to winning the world title after knocking out previous champion Rolly Romero of the United States.

“So glad to see Mexican Isaac 'Pitbull' Cruz rise to the occasion to become a world titleholder under our promotion,” the 45-year-old eight-division world champion said in a statement.

“He [Cruz] is the embodiment of a true hard-working 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. 

The Hermosillo, Mexico-born Cruz, who is sporting a 26-2-1 win-loss-draw record with 18 knockouts, dethroned Romero after unleashing a flurry of powerful punches en route to an eight-round technical knockout victory to seize the WBA belt at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. 

For his part, MP Promotion president and international matchmaker Sean Gibbons, said Pacquiao and Cruz have a lot of things in common, both not only being good boxers but also being family men. 

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

Gibbons added that Cruz is the first fighter that they signed outside the Philippines in 2019 and the first boxer from Mexico until now whom they were able to successfully develop to a world champion.

“Manny Pacquiao is very thrilled to promoting the newest face of Mexican boxing – Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz. When I showed him Isaac Cruz, he was thrilled, and he 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 strong historic Hispanic ties between the Philippines and the Mexico especially when it comes to boxing, that’s why Pacquiao appreciates the talents and courage of every fighter from both countries. 

“Mexico and 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,” he said.