The Breakfast Club: Interview with Lamont Roach Jr.

Date: December 3, 2025
Episode: Lamont Roach Talks Isaac 'Pitbull' Cruz Fight, Tank Rematch, Jake Paul Vs. Anthony Joshua + More
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God
Guest: Lamont Roach Jr., pro boxer

Episode Overview

This episode features an in-depth interview with boxer Lamont Roach Jr., who sits down with the Breakfast Club hosts ahead of his highly anticipated fight against Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz. The conversation explores Roach's recent rise in the boxing world following his fight with Gervonta “Tank” Davis, the realities of high-stakes boxing negotiations, his views on current matchups like Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua, and the mental and physical demands of fighting at multiple weights. Roach also addresses the personal and community pressures of representing Washington D.C., his approach to fan expectations, and what motivates him as he chases champion status across divisions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Missed Rematch with Gervonta "Tank" Davis

• Roach’s Perspective on Why the Rematch Didn’t Happen:
  • [03:55] “I just thought he, you know, didn't want to take the fight after he realized what he was getting himself into. First fight was closer than the judges made it seem. So he was like, you know what, it don’t need me to get back in that ring.”
  • Tank’s team prioritized an easier, more lucrative fight rather than a legacy risk.
  • Roach is adamant his career “never gonna be based on just one fight.”
• The Rematch Clause Complication:
  • [05:01] “He initiated the rematch clause so we are contracted to fight again. Then that's when all the problems happen.”

2. The Politics & Business of Boxing

• How fights get made—or don’t:
  • [06:12] “As soon as you get into the sport…if you a guy that's into the business…and want to know what's going on, my team—they very transparent with me…That's something that's not supposed to happen. But you just deal with it accordingly.”
• Changes in Reputation Post-Tank Fight:
  • The Tank bout shifted industry and fan perception; more opponents now hesitate to fight him.
  • Roach is “surprised” Pitbull Cruz took the fight, noting Cruz isn’t “caught up into wanting to protect his record”—he just wants to be “the next Mexican boxing superstar.” [07:15]

3. Facing Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz

• No Nerves About Cruz’s Pressure:
  • [08:32] “Pitbull…he don’t stop. Constant pressure. But I’ve been there. I done fought the pit bull style ever since I’ve been a kid…it ain’t nothing I can’t handle. I got 10 ways to win. He got one.”
• Strategic Approach:
  • Roach plans to use “ring IQ off top” rather than get into a slugfest.
  • [10:58] “He ain't never felt this thunder, man…gonna attack from all angles, be versatile. Some things he probably not gonna expect gonna hit him—like really where it hurt.”
• On Making Cruz Uncomfortable:
  • Roach outlines his blend of defense, movement, and smart punch selection as keys to controlling the fight.

4. Multi-Division Ambition & Physiology of Fighting at Different Weights

• Quest for Championships:
  • [11:51] “This my third division in my third consecutive fight…I just want to be known as one of the best, like pound for pound.”
  • Winning this fight “catapults” him into challenge for the WBC full world title, or he’ll drop back to 135 lbs for another championship opportunity.
• The Science (and Struggles) of Making Weight:
  • On moving up: less weight to cut, more muscle to retain, more “comfortability.”
  • [14:14] “When I fought my last fight at 135, the weight was so easy to make…Still kinda do the same thing, but had more room to play with.”

5. Mental & Physical Preparation (and Dealing with Life Outside the Ring)

• Handling Holidays, Diet, & Discipline:
  • Even enjoyed “Thanksgiving twice during camp”—it comes down to how and when to balance intake and burn.
  • [18:23] “I drink a gallon of water every day. I’m only three pounds out…I could lose that today and weigh in tomorrow.”
• Representing & Uplifting D.C.:
  • [19:36] “Sometimes you think [D.C.]’s on the right path…and then next thing you know, boom. It’s running wild…as part of being a figure, I try to step in, do community outreach, push positivity.”
  • Roach describes balancing pride, responsibility, and practical concerns (“call my security real quick”).
  • On fighting despite the city’s struggles: “Doesn’t necessarily affect me, like, hit me, like, hit home…but when I do go back home…It's crazy.”

6. Fan Perception, Mexican Fanbase, & Media Exposure

• Are Fighters Still Underestimating Roach?
  • [21:24] “I think he better not, I’ll tell you that…if they are, he might go to sleep.”
  • Tank fight “exposed me to the world”—more eyes, but less chance to be overlooked.
• On the Mexican Crowd:
  • [22:27] “They gonna be loud chanting for me after I win. For sure.”
• On Cruz’s “Weakness”:
  • “His weakness is his strong point—he likes to fight…he makes a lot of mistakes, and I’m just gonna capitalize.”

7. Boxing Business—Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua & More

• Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua Breakdown
  • [26:05] Notable Quote:
    • “I think Jake Paul is crazy. He gonna get his ass murdered…like a white boy that's not afraid to die. It’s like some movie, right?”
  • On the business side—massive paydays, spectacle, and risk vs. reward.
    • “AJ makes a lot of money already…but 95 [million]? I’d jump in, it’s only going to last. It's not…he’s not getting hit by like a Mack truck, bro.”
  • If Jake loses, little impact ("he’s supposed to lose"); the real reward is the spectacle and the check.

8. Motivation, Mental Edge, and the Stakes

• Roach Still Feels Overlooked—Uses It as Fuel:
  • [30:09] “They had me messed up…but…it’s still people saying, ‘I’m not gonna be able to deal with Cruz’s power...’ Those people got me fucked up, too.”
• Biggest Moment of Career:
  • [31:25] “This is probably the biggest moment in my career because it’s gonna catapult me into that stage…This is like the legacy run of my career.”
• Fan Takeaway on Fight Night:
  • [32:42] (When asked, fans will say):
    • Lamont Roach Jr.: “That's a bad motherfucker.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:55 | Lamont Roach Jr. | “He didn’t want to take the fight after he realized like what he was getting into. First fight was closer than the judges made it seem.” | | 07:36 | Lamont Roach Jr. | “Pitbull is…gonna do what he think he need to do to become the next Mexican boxing superstar.” | | 08:37 | Lamont Roach Jr. | “I got 10 ways to win. He got one. So it’s cool. We gonna exploit that.” | | 10:58 | Lamont Roach Jr. | “He ain’t never felt this thunder, man…” | | 26:05 | Lamont Roach Jr. | “I think Jake Paul is crazy. He gonna get his ass murdered…like a white boy that’s not afraid to die.” | | 30:09 | Lamont Roach Jr. | “Those people got me fucked up, too. They got me messed up, too.” | | 32:42 | Lamont Roach Jr. | “That’s a bad motherfucker.” |

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:55 – Why the Tank rematch fell through
• 07:15 – On being surprised Cruz took the fight
• 10:58 – Breakdown of Cruz’s style and Roach’s strategy
• 14:14 – The realities of fighting at different weights
• 19:36 – Community violence in D.C. and Roach’s outreach
• 26:05 – Takes on Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua
• 31:25 – What this fight means for Roach’s career
• 32:42 – The legacy moment and what fans will say about him

Tone & Style

The episode maintains the Breakfast Club’s signature blend of candid, humorous, and streetwise conversation. Roach is calm, self-assured, and thoughtful, but unafraid to show bravado or engage in playful ribbing with the hosts. The exchange is open, sometimes explicit, and loaded with mutual respect and posturing typical of boxing culture.

Summary Takeaway

Lamont Roach Jr. comes across as a contender deeply aware of his position in boxing’s power structure, confident in his skills and work ethic, and shrewd about the perils and politics of the sport. With a major fight looming against Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz, Roach is motivated, undaunted by pressure, and eager to prove—again—that doubters “got [him] messed up.” Whether breaking down business moves, handling haters, or confronting the realities of the fight game, he combines focus with realness, promising fans a show, a win, and another step toward legacy.

Listen to this fight (Roach vs. Cruz) on Amazon Prime, December 6.