Muratalla was elevated to full champion following the retirement of Vasiliy Lomachenko, opening the door for an immediate mandatory defense. Cruz earned his position with a rapid climb through the IBF rankings, capped by a win over Hironori Mishiro last June. The result is an unusual match on paper. A champion with momentum. A challenger with only six professional fights.
Eddie Hearn described Cruz as one of the most complete fighters he has worked with, even if the Cuban’s public profile has lagged behind others in the division. The lack of attention is more tied to volume than faith. Cruz did not appear often. Saturday changes that equation.
Despite a 6-0 record, Cruz is widely regarded in the sport as a top-level talent who was still early in his professional development. The title, which shot on January 24th, represents its first opportunity to translate that reputation into hardware.
In the build-up, Matchroom Boxing released behind-the-scenes footage from Cruz’s camp, offering a glimpse into his daily routine and preparation. Cruz framed the fight as a career moment, even as his wording drifted into champion territory.
“This fight is the most important fight of my career,” Cruz said Matchroom. “At this moment I just had to prove it. I want to put on a great performance and stay the champion that night.”
Cruz trains out of Philadelphia under Derek Bozy Ennis and shares gym time with Jaron Ennis. Those around the gym said his talent was evident early on, but the focus was on adaptation rather than reinvention.
“My style comes from Cuba,” Cruz said. “Rather than changing it, I made adjustments. A combination of Cuban boxing and what I learned here can produce good results. Talent without work is nothing.”
Saturday will test whether that blend holds up over twelve rounds against a pressure fighter who has already proven he belongs at the championship level. If that happens, Cruz’s short resume will no longer be the first thing people mention.
