'Pitbull' wins split decision over Cabrera in lightweight eliminator

Santiago outpoints Donaire to claim vacant WBC bantamweight title; junior middleweight prospect Tellez knock out Garcia

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LAS VEGAS — Lightweight contender and fan favorite Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz claimed a split decision over Giovanni Cabrera in a WBC/WBA title elimination bout that was the Errol Spence Jr.-Terence Crawford co-feature on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.

One judge scored it for Cabrera, 114-113, but the other two had it 114-113 and 115-112 for Cruz, who put himself in position to potentially fight for a vacant 135-pound belt should undisputed champion Devin Haney relinquish in the coming months as many expect.

With his promoter Manny Pacquiao at ringside, Cruz also kept himself in the running for the fight he really wants, a rematch with WBA “secondary” titlist Gervonta Davis, who he lost a debatable decision to in December 2021.

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