Andy Cruz gets another route back to the IBF lightweight title picture, but the price Matchroom Boxing paid to secure the fight spoke volumes for how little demand there was at the purse table.
Matchroom won Tuesday’s purse bid for the IBF lightweight eliminator between Cruz (6-1, 3 KOs) and Albert Bell with a modest winning bid of $298,000. Bell, who entered the bout ranked #3 by the IBF, will receive the larger split at 60 percent, while #4-ranked Cruz takes 40 percent.
The winner will move into the mandatory position for IBF lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla (24-0, 17 KOs), who currently has an optional defense before the sanctioning body orders a mandatory title fight in October.
Cruz already shared the ring with Muratalla earlier this year and came up short in a majority decision loss. The IBF still moved the Cuban contender back into position after Lucas Bahdi turned down the knockout opportunity.
The fight gives Cruz another fast track to a world title despite only having seven professional fights. The 2020 Olympic gold medalist is still considered by many to be one of the most skilled fighters in the division, although his loss to Muratalla slowed some of the momentum that has followed him since leaving the amateur ranks.
Bell, meanwhile, is finally getting the kind of opportunity he’s been chasing for years. The Toledo native has remained buried out of the spotlight despite being ranked high at lightweight. The 33-year-old has remained active in 2025 with decision wins over Josec Ruiz and Keith Hunter while waiting for a meaningful fight to materialize.
Cruz also mentioned the possibility of eventually moving to 140 pounds, where Ring/WBO junior welterweight champion Shakur Stevenson has been floated as a future target.
At this point, Cruz remains a lightweight with another direct path opening to Muratalla and the IBF belt.
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Last updated on 2026/05/27 at 19:18
