Moving up in weight to fight Isaac Cruz wasn’t an arbitrary decision made by Lamont Roach. He has a plan.

The two meet on December 6 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.

“When I win, I’ll be in line for the WBC champion, Subriel Matias,” Roach said during their recent press conference.

Of course, Cruz will have something to say about that. The Mexican, who holds the WBC interim 140-pound strap, is a handful for any opponent.

As for Matias, the Puerto Rican knocked off Alberto Puello on July 12 in New York to become a two-time 140-pound champion.

But while being called out by rivals, he’ll first have to deal with mandatory contender Dalton Smith. They will meet on January 10 at a yet-to-be-determined site in New York.

For Roach, beating Cruz (28-3-1, 18 KOs) and Matias (23-2, 22 KOs) would lift his status and spirits significantly. The 30-year-old defied the odds by fighting Gervonta Davis to a controversial majority draw on March 1.

Many, including Roach, were under the assumption that they would rematch. But, despite Davis (30-0-1, 28 KOs) exercising his rematch clause, he opted against it and will instead face Jake Paul in an exhibition November 14.

Although he still wants that rematch, Roach (25-1-2, 10 KOs) isn’t going to beg for it. What he wants to focus on is building his legacy.

“I’m confident in my work,” Roach said. “I want to prove that I’m one of the best fighters in the world.”