Isaac Cruz and Angel Fierro to fight for “Aztec Warrior” belt made in honor of Israel Vazquez

LAS VEGAS – As if Mexico’s Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz and Angel Fierro needed any further motivation for their junior welterweight battle Saturday at T-Mobile Arena, a unique belt crafted in memory of their iconic countryman Israel Vazquez and his fighting spirit is now on the line.

This week, the World Boxing Council (WBC) introduced its commemorative “Aztec Warrior” belt celebrating the history of boxing in Mexico. The winner of Cruz-Fierro will be the belt’s inaugural winner – and carry a privileged responsibility.

“We created the Aztec Warrior special belt in memory of Israel Vazquez,” WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman told BoxingScene, “and it’s going to be presented in those fights between two Mexican nationals that bring the memory of Israel Vasquez, [Rafael] Marquez, [Julio Cesar] Chavez – all those great fights between Mexicans.”

Vazquez, who lost his battle to cancer at age 46 in December, met Rafael Marquez in a four-fight series spanning from 2007 to 2010 that rates among boxing’s best and most dramatic rivalries. But it was also one of many Mexico-based rivalries intended to be honored by the WBC, including Erik Morales-Marco Antonio Barrera, Julio Cesar Chavez Snr-Oscar De La Hoya and Carlos Zarate-Alfonso Zamora.

For Cruz and Fierro, it’s a lot to live up to. Say what you will about sanctioning body straps, but the “Guerrero Azteca” belt, which incorporates the Aztec calendar into its design and is etched with the name of Vazquez, figures to take on special meaning among those who fight for and wear it. And with the WBC noting that the belt “pays homage to our ancestral roots” in a year when Mexico is commemorating the 700th anniversary of the founding of Tenochtitlan – or the seeds of Mexico City, where Cruz calls home – the first combatants to compete for it won’t be the exception.

“It’s a great honor for me to fight for this WBC belt that honors great Mexican rivalries and the late Israel Vazquez,” Cruz said. “I’m excited to be in this position.”

Although Cruz, 26-3-1 (18 KOs), and Fierro, 23-2-2 (18 KOs), engaged in a long staredown and went nose-to-nose at Thursday’s final press conference before being separated without incident, the fight hasn’t provided the sort of sparks outside the ring that Saturday’s main event between David Benavidez and David Morrell Jnr has. None are needed.

“We always hear people talk about a big fight, a fight in a phone booth,” said TGB Promotions’ Tom Brown. “Well, this is that fight. These two fighters will not take a step back. It’s a throwback-style fight to the great all-Mexican wars we used to get in the old days at the Grand Olympic or at the Great Western Forum.

“When a fight ended, even before the decision was announced, fans would throw money and coins into the ring and applaud the great performance from the two fighters. And if you remember, someone would scoop all the money up in a hat, bring it back to the fighters, and they’d divide it up back in the dressing room after the fight. Well, that’s the type of fight that this is. So everyone, bring a lot of cash to this fight because these kids are going to earn that bonus.”

Jason Langendorf is the former Boxing Editor of ESPN.com, was a contributor to Ringside Seat and the Queensberry Rules, and has written about boxing for Vice, The Guardian, Chicago Sun-Times and other publications. A member of the Boxing Writers Association of America, he can be found at LinkedIn and followed on X and Bluesky.