Andy Cruz is fighting against Hironori Mishiro in a final IBF lightweight eliminator this Saturday, June 14, to determine the mandatory challenger for 135 pounds champion Raymond Muratalla. Mishiro has very little chance to win on Saturday. The only question is: Will Cruz beat or hit him by a going decision as he did in his last fight against Omar Salcido Gamez?
(Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom)
Cruz vs. Mishiro: IBF Eliminator
The IBF is expected to defend against the winner of the Cruz against Mishiro match within 9 to 12 months against the winner of the Cruz against Mishiro. This leaves little time for Muratalla (23-0, 17 COs) to push some easy defense before he may face the 2020-Talented Olympic Gold Medal of 2020, Andy Cruz. Muratalla did not win the IBF -Tussentage title against Zaur Abdullaev last month.
Raymond Muratalla is criticized for being one -dimensional, fought in one gear and that he does not have the killer instinct in his fights. He fights predictably, often looks like a zombie during his attacks, and looks lifeless during interviews. Miss that spark.
Cruz is a nightmare for everyone in the 135 pound section and is avoided like the pest by Top Rank’s fighter, Keyshawn Davis. He did not want anything to do with Cruz after losing to him four times in the amateurs.
Andy repeatedly exclaimed Keyhawn and tried to fight him, but he wouldn’t. He had every excuse in the book to avoid Cruz, and now he has one more after choosing to rise up to 140.
Top Rank’s Muratalla-Cruz problem
It is not ideal for their fighter, Muratalla, to be confronted with a high-level fighter like Andy Cruz who breathes his neck, immediately after he was elevated to the new IBF champion after Vasily Lomachenko’s retirement last week.
Top rank is likely to prefer the Muratalla Get time to milk His IBF belt before facing a risky opponent who has little chance to win. They chose the wrong belt to position Muratalla to grab, and he could get stuck with Cruz as his compulsory challenger if he were to conquer on Saturday.
Hitchins Cambosos undercard fights
– Alexis Barriere vs. Roney Hines
– Ernesto Mercado vs. Jonathan Show
– Pablo Valdez vs. Cesar Diaz
– Nishant Dev vs. Josue Silva
– Zaquin Moses against Carl Rogers
– Adam Maca at Rafael Castillo
Dazn fight night preview
Saturday’s event will be broadcast at 19:00 ET / 16:00 PT on Dazn. Cruz (5-0, 2 costs) against Mishiro (17-1-1, 6 COs) is the co-function on the Richardson Hitchins against George Kambosos Card.
Last updated on 06/08/2025
