Cruz vs Romero Predictions: Erika in Cruz control

Erika Cruz will defend the WBA super bantamweight title against Nazarena Romero on Saturday, May 11. This title 10-rounder will take place at Palenque de la Feria in Aguascalientes, Mexico. DAZN televise the card, headlined by Eduardo Hernandez vs Daniel Lugo.

Here are my Cruz vs Romero predictions ahead of one of the weekend’s sleeper fights.

Two-weight world champion Cruz is making the first defence of her title here. She dethroned WBA super bantamweight champion Mayerlin Rivas last time out via split decision. Cruz came on strong over the course of the fight’s second half to take the title in a stunning display.

It was the Mexican’s second global belt, having reigned as WBA featherweight champion from 2021 to 2023. Cruz lost that title in an absolute thriller with future Hall of Famer Amanda Serrano. 

The undisputed championship bout saw over 1,900 punches thrown and Cruz bleeding for her art in a gruesomely-compelling spectacle. For the dethroned former champion, it represented that rarest of fights. A defeat that enhances the reputation of the loser as well as the winner.

Obviously you don’t want too many nights like that, lest the effects become damaging. But Cruz has regrouped well since. With two victories and a freshly-won title to show for it, she looks ready for this hometown bout against Romero.

Romero provides high-class opposition for the reigning queen. The Argentine is unbeaten and previously held the WBA interim bantamweight championship. She cashed in that status to compete for the full crown against common opponent Rivas. 

Romero had her opponent on the canvas and things were looking good. But an accidental clash of heads halted the contest in the fifth round, rendering a technical draw. Rivas would go on to lose the belt to Cruz, with Romero now getting a title re-do due to the way her previous chance ended.

Romero may lament the way things worked out. Cruz is a far trickier proposition than Rivas was. Considering the fact Romero had already had the champion on the canvas, coupled with the fact Rivas lost the title in her next outing, the Argentine must feel hard done by. But she can banish those feelings with a good display here.

The way I see it though, Romero has an extremely difficult job on her hands. While she is unbeaten, Cruz has fought at a higher level. Against Serrano, the Mexican showed she belongs among the elite. Meanwhile, the majority of Romero’s victories have come against local opposition in Argentina.

That’s not to say she can’t find a higher ceiling here. Perhaps the reason Romero has not added a true top name to her resume is simply because she hasn’t yet fought one. Cruz would certainly fit into that category. A win here would propel Romero to the very top of the industry.

However, I don’t believe Romero will secure it. Cruz is too good in every department to sacrifice her title this weekend. I’m backing ‘Dinamita’ to retain her WBA crown via decision, which you can get 8/13 on. Her two wins since the Serrano war showed that she hasn’t lost a step since that punishing 10-rounder. That means that, in my eyes, she’ll be too much for Romero.

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