Lamont Roach expects to “dominate” Isaac Cruz in a way the rugged Mexican has never experienced.

Roach sees so many defensive deficiencies in the durable Cruz that the WBA 130-pound champion is even confident he can become the first fighter to knock out the hard-hitting “Pitbull.” Cruz’s chin has been one of his greatest strengths, but that didn’t inhibit Roach during an interview with Max Kellerman, Mike Coppinger, Ryan Garcia and LeSean McCoy during the most recent episode of “Inside The Ring.”

“If I don’t [knock him out],” Roach said, “I promise you it’s gonna be the worst he ever got beat – ever, worst.”

Cruz will defend his WBC super lightweight title against Roach on December 6 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, where they will attend a press conference Wednesday afternoon. Roach, 30, has moved up five pounds for a second straight bout because Gervonta Davis reneged on their agreement for an immediate rematch that was supposed to take place August 16 in Las Vegas.

The Premier Boxing Champions pay-per-view main event between Cruz (28-3-1, 17 KOs) and Roach (25-1-2, 10 KOs) will match the opponents who gave Davis the two most troublesome bouts of his 12-year pro career.

Cruz, 27, pushed Baltimore’s Davis (30-0-1, 28 KOs), but he lost a 12-round unanimous decision in December 2021 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Roach, who moved up from 130 pounds to 135, and Davis fought to a controversial majority draw March 1 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Mexico City’s Cruz has lost on points to Davis, Jose Valenzuela and countryman Luis Montano Alvarez. Valenzuela (14-3, 9 KOs) beat Cruz by split decision in their fight for the WBA 140-pound title 14 months ago in Los Angeles and Alvarez (then 10-5) upset him by unanimous decision in Cruz’s sixth professional fight 9½ years ago in Mexico City.

Roach realizes that overcoming Cruz won’t be easy. The Upper Marlboro, Maryland resident is convinced, however, that he has a versatile style suited to neutralize Cruz’s persistent pressure and sustainable power.

“The thing that he does well is punch hard for all 12 rounds,” Roach said. “That’s about it. A lotta people don’t know that he has a good sense of timing. … We study him, so like he has a good sense of timing that probably some people don’t pick up on until they probably either get hit with one of those shots. And by the time you get hit with one of those shots it’s a little too late. But that’s what he does well. And he does well with, you know, keeping like a straight face. You know, he gasses out early, but he does keep his like same game face, though, for sure.”

The Ring ranks Roach fourth among its junior lightweight contenders for a title that is vacant. Cruz isn’t rated in The Ring’s top 10 at junior welterweight, despite that he owns an interim championship.

Roach opened as more than a 2-1 favorite according to FanDuel.