Cruz Stops Bravo in Six: Reynoso's First Fight in the Corner Ends in a Knockout
Pechanga Arena, San Diego — September 19, 2026
Isaac 'Pitbull' Cruz knocked out Nestor Bravo in round six to retain the interim WBC super lightweight title in his first fight under Eddy Reynoso — a foul-marred night that also saw a scratched main event replaced on short notice.
The BOXING OS Desk · Sep 21, 2026 · 4 MIN READ
- ✓Isaac Cruz (29-3-2, 19 KOs) knocked out Nestor Bravo in round six with a left hook to retain the interim WBC super lightweight title.
- ✓It was Cruz's first fight under trainer Eddy Reynoso — and it ended in a stoppage, not a decision.
- ✓Bravo was docked two points, in rounds two and four, in a foul-heavy fight; it was his first knockout loss in eleven years as a pro.
- ✓Jesus Ramos Jr.'s interim WBC middleweight title defense was scratched at the weigh-in after he was hospitalized with suspected food poisoning.
- ✓Three replacement bouts filled the card: Blancas–Jimenez, Verde–Hernandez, and Marcial–Huerta.
On September 19, 2026, at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, Isaac 'Pitbull' Cruz (29-3-2, 19 KOs) knocked out Nestor Bravo (24-3, 17 KOs) in round six with a left hook, referee Thomas Taylor completing the count at 1:30, to retain the interim WBC super lightweight title in his first fight under new trainer Eddy Reynoso. The fight was marked by two point deductions against Bravo, for excessive holding in round two and throwing Cruz to the canvas in round four. It was Bravo's first knockout loss in eleven years as a professional. The card's scheduled co-feature, Jesus Ramos Jr.'s interim WBC middleweight title defense against Meiirim Nursultanov, was scratched at the weigh-in after Ramos was hospitalized with suspected food poisoning; he was released Friday morning and no new date has been announced. Replacement bouts were added: Daniel Blancas vs. Sergio Jimenez, Marco Verde vs. Guillermo Hernandez, and Eumir Marcial vs. Omar Ulises Huerta.
The preview asked what a new corner changes about a fighter who has always come forward. The answer arrived in round six: a finish.
The main event Isaac Cruz caught Nestor Bravo with a left hook in round six, and referee Thomas Taylor had seen enough by 1:30 to wave it off. It was Bravo's first knockout loss in eleven years as a professional — a genuinely rare thing to say about anyone in this sport — and it came in Cruz's first fight under Eddy Reynoso. The pressure was still there, as promised; what looked different was how efficiently Cruz got to the finish, rather than simply outworking his way through twelve rounds. Bravo fought dirty on the way down, and paid for it: point deductions in round two for excessive holding and round four for throwing Cruz to the canvas did nothing to slow the outcome, only to make it uglier to watch. Cruz moves to 29-3-2, Bravo to 24-3.
The chaos underneath The real story of the night arrived before the opening bell. Jesus Ramos Jr., defending his interim WBC middleweight title against Meiirim Nursultanov, was pulled from the card at the weigh-in — hospitalized with suspected food poisoning, released Friday morning, no fight and no new date. Promoters scrambled three replacement bouts onto the card in the gap: Daniel Blancas vs. Sergio Jimenez, Marco Verde vs. Guillermo Hernandez, and Eumir Marcial vs. Omar Ulises Huerta. The lesson for anyone still building a fight camp: a title shot can evaporate at the scale, and the only real insurance is being ready to fight anyone, on short notice, anyway — something the camp-and-recovery folder in the Corner takes more seriously than most training plans do.
Bravo's corner will point to the holding and the fouls. Cruz's corner will point to the fact that none of it mattered by round six.
The rest of the weekend: Joshua Van retained the UFC flyweight title over Alexandre Pantoja in Los Angeles, and Pat Brown won the vacant British and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles in Manchester.
FAQ
How did Cruz beat Bravo?+
Isaac Cruz knocked out Nestor Bravo in round six with a left hook. Referee Thomas Taylor counted him out at 1:30, retaining Cruz's interim WBC super lightweight title.
What happened to the Ramos vs. Nursultanov co-feature?+
Jesus Ramos Jr. was scratched from his interim WBC middleweight title defense at the weigh-in after being hospitalized with suspected food poisoning. He was released Friday morning; no new date has been set.
Was this Isaac Cruz's first fight with Eddy Reynoso?+
Yes — this was Cruz's first fight training under Eddy Reynoso, and it produced his first stoppage win in some time.
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