The two will meet in the main event Saturday night at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California, live on DAZN.

For Cruz, getting a win and defending his WBC interim junior welterweight title is paramount. But equally as important is what's waiting on the other side if he gets the job done.

“This fight means a lot,” Cruz said at Thursday's press conference. “This fight can be something that means a lot for my career and I have to win in order to go and face the big names.”

Mexico City's Cruz hasn’t secured a win since beating Omar Salcido by decision in July 2025. The relentless pressure fighter fought Lamont Roach in December but had to settle for a majority draw.

Still, Cruz remains one of the 140-pound division's biggest names, making him an attractive option for some of the elite fighters. Matchups against champions Dalton Smith (WBC), Shakur Stevenson (The Ring/WBO) and Gary Antuanne Russell (WBA), intrigue Cruz.

Also, Cruz hasn’t ruled out the possibility of fighting WBC welterweight champ Ryan Garcia. The 28-year-old destroyed Conor Benn via second-round stoppage last Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Both Cruz and Garcia have called each other out over the years but a fight has failed to materialize.

Cruz (28-3-2, 18 KOs) has plenty of options, but before he turns his attention to those bigger names, he knows he has to remain focused on the task at hand.

“I’m fully focused on Nestor Bravo right now,” Cruz said. “That’s the only thing that I’m thinking about. I want the fans to be the biggest winner of the night and put on a show.”

Bravo, 32, hasn't fought since January when he destroyed Pedro Campa inside two rounds at Brooklyn's Barclays Center.