For a quick minute, touted teenage lightweight phenom Curmel Moton was linked to a fight against Lamont Roach Jr.

In August, Moton promoter Floyd Mayweather posted a poster of his protégé and teased a tilt against Roach.

"Let’s make this fight happen," Mayweather said at the time. “Curmel Moton is already in. Roach, let’s do it. Even if I have to put up the money."

Mayweather’s move made waves in the boxing world, as Moton and Roach had a series of heated exchanges.

But Roach, the WBA junior lightweight champion, was looking for meaningful fights against more seasoned and well-known opponents, especially after fighting to a controversial majority draw against Gervonta Davis in March.

Once a rematch with Davis failed to fall into place, Roach (25-1-2, 10 KOs) moved on to his scheduled fight Saturday against WBC interim junior welterweight titleholder Isaac Cruz (28-3-1, 18 KOs). The matchup will take place at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, to headline a PBC on Prime Video PPV event.

Moton believes the savvy Roach should emerge victorious against the power-punching “Pitbull” Cruz.

“Roach should win and be the better man. He's sharper than Cruz and should outbox him to get the unanimous decision,” Moton told The Ring.

Moton (8-0, 6 KOs) envisions 2026 being a breakout year for him and working his way up from Photoshopped posters to real fights against the likes of Roach or Cruz.

Many are billing the 19-year-old Moton as a “generational talent” and as skilled and powerful as Davis, and he’s prepared to prove it.

“I believe in myself, and I believe in my skillset,” said Moton. “I know what I can do, and Floyd believes in me, too. I know that I can take on the best 135- and 140-pounders in the world right now, even at my age.

"I am ready to risk my undefeated record and show it. It’s all about getting the opportunities. Time will tell, and I will be ready.”