It's a compelling 135 lb. world title bout Saturday night in Las Vegas, as newly crowned IBF champ Raymond Murallata takes on Cuban Olympic Gold Medalist Andy Cruz.
Coming up Saturday night in Las Vegas, Raymond Muratalla makes his first defense of the IBF lightweight title and he's got no "easy night" battling former Cuban Olympian, Andy Cruz. And, the 29-year-old, Fontana, California, native, 23-0 with 17 KOs knows this will be his biggest moment to date.
Since he turned professional in 2016, Murattala climbed the ranks on Top Rank Boxing, developing and showing promise, as fighter with sharp fundamentals and growing confidence.
In the recent his résume has quietly strengthened. His biggest wins on the rise were over Jeremia Nakathila in two rounds, stopping previously unbeaten Diego Torres in the eighth, and comfortably outboxing Xolisani Ndongeni. He followed that by taking a decision win over former 130 lb. world champion Tevin Farmer and making quick work of Jesus Antonio Perez.
Those performances earned Muratalla the interim IBF title shot last May against Zaur Abdullaev. With full titleholder Vasiliy Lomachenko sidelined and likely retired, the fight was essentially going to be for the full, world title. And, Muratalla the test passed convincingly, winning an easy decision. So, when the great Lomachenko officially retired a short time later, Muratalla went from interim to full champion status.
Next, the IBF soon ordered him to defend against Andy Cruz, who has been brought along quickly by Matchroom Boxing into this title shot.
Cruz, is 6-0 professionally but the believed 30-year-old (you can never be sure on ages with the Cuban athletic programs) is an Olympic gold medalist, having captured the title in Tokyo in 2021 by defeating former WBO champ Keyshawn Davis in the final. Since turning pro in 2023, he went ten rounds immediately with Juan Carlos Burgos in his debut, stopped Antonio Moran, and dominated Omar Salcido before scoring the TKO over Hironori Mishiro last June.
Matchroom won the purse bid for Muratalla-Cruz, ensuring the fight would land on DAZN and setting the stage for Saturday night at the Fountainbleau Hotel in Vegas.
Hear insider Dan Rafael with me previewing this battle off our Big Fight Weekend podcast by clicking play below,
This bout comes at a time when the lightweight landscape is essentially anyone's for the taking. Gervonta “Tank” Davis remains inactive, while evading authorities on domestic violence charges and the WBA stripped him this week. The other premier fighter in the division Shakur Stevenson, the WBC titleholder, is moving up to 140 lb. and challenging Teofimo Lopez for the WBO title next weekend. And, young unbeaten Abdullah Mason just won the WBO belt in a wild fight with Sam Noakes back in November.
A strong showing showing Saturday night could elevate Muratalla into possible unification, but the same can be said for the fast tracked Cruz.
The undercard adds further intrigue. At light heavyweight, Khalil Coe faces Jesse Hart in a compelling matchup. Coe recently avenged a loss to Manuel Gallegos, while Hart, a former super middleweight title challenger, returns to traditional boxing after extensive action in the Team Combat League.
Also featured is former WBA junior middleweight titleholder Israil Madrimov, looking to rebound from losses to Terence Crawford and Vergil Ortiz against Luis David Salazar. And former with Olympic bronze medalist Omari Jones continues his early professional run against undefeated Jerome Baxter.