Andy Cruz is set to take over the lightweight division in the first title fight of his short career against IBF champion Raymond Muratalla on January 24, 202.6 on DAZN at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Avoid like the plague
If Cruz captures the IBF title from Muratalla, it will be interesting to see if he gets the big fight opportunities that other lesser talents like Shakur Stevenson get. Capturing the IBF belt should, in theory, help Cruz get the fights he needs to become the star in the lightweight division.
The Turki factor
If Cruz looks too good to beat Muratalla on Jan. 24, that could work against him. He will be treated like a leper or one of the untouchable castes. That would likely require Turki Alalshikh to be interested in Cruz in the same way he is with Terence Crawford. Without Turki, Cruz could be permanently relegated to the “who needs him” club, viewed as an undesirable by fighters and their shrewd promoters.
Andy recently defeated Hironori Mishiro by fifth-round knockout in an IBF 135-lb title eliminator on June 14, 2025 to lock himself into position to challenge for a belt.
Eddie Hearn-promoted 2020 Olympic gold medalist Cruz (6-0, 3 KOs) is the future of the 135-lb division. So far, the Cuban talent has been avoided like the plague, a fighter who has ignored the top fighters like Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta Davis.
Lightweight politics at play
What has hurt Cruz’s ability to get fights is a combination of his lack of English skill, his incredible talent and the lightweight division’s lack of risk takers. Shakur likes to say he’s willing to fight anyone, but his opponent choices suggest otherwise. He could have defended against #1 WBC Cruz a long time ago, but he was chosen to take easier fights.
Cruz was dropped from Turki Alalshikh’s stacked Ring IV event last Saturday night in Riyadh. Instead, 21-year-old Abdullah Mason struggled to a close 12-round decision over Sam Noakes in a sloppy fight.
Last updated on 25/11/2025
