2020 Olympic Cuban gold medalist Andy Cruz (5-0, 2 COs) will fight Hironori Mishiro (17-1-1, 6 COs) in an IBF lightweight title Eliminator on the Richardson Hitchins against George Kambosos Jr. card on June 14 in the Theater in Madison Square Garden in New York City. The event will be shown Live on dazn.
The winner of the Cruz-Mishiro battle can challenge Raymond Muratalla if he has been elevated to the full champion, as current IBF champion Vasily Lomachenko prefers to retire rather than come back. Since Cruz is talented and not one of top rank’s fighters, Muratalla is likely to wait a year or more before defending against him.
Top Rank promotes Muratalla, and they don’t want him to lose the IBF immediately against Cruz in a low paid battle. They will expand it for as long as possible and try to set up more profitable matches against Gerrvonta Davis, Keyshawn Davis or Abdullah Mason.
The protection of Shakur against Cruz
Interestingly, the promoter Eddie Hearn Andy Cruz in the direction of the IBF title rather than the WBC belt held by Matchrome Fighter Shakur Stevenson. Cruz is the rankings #1 WBC and #3 IBF. The idea is to protect Shakur long enough to get the big money fight against WBA champion Gervonta Davis.
If Hearn were to fight with Shakur against Cruz, Newark, New Jersey, would probably lose. This would permanently destroy his chances of fighting the tank. It is smart, but still looks bad that Stevenson is protected from the more talented cruz. It’s business.
Cruz has gradually exclaimed Keyhawn Davis since becoming a pro in 2023, but without any luck. Now that Keyshawn has won the WBO title of the fellow Top fighter Denys Berinchyk, there is even less interest on his part to face Cruz.
New York State of Mind
@Andydiamondcruz In an IBF World Lightweight Title Final Eliminator, plus Alexis Barriere, Ernesto Mercado, @zaquin_moses, @nishantdevjrthe pro -debut of Adam Maca & Pablo Valdez
#Hitchinskambosos along with a stacked card at @Thetheateratmsg to … pic.twitter.com/dq7nopgja
– Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) May 16, 2025
Last updated on 05/17/2025
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