Promoter Eddie Hearn is looking forward to his fighter, Andy Cruz, showing that he was right in signing him when he challenges IBF lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla on January 24, 2026, at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Las Vegas. The event will be broadcast live on DAZN.
Cruz’s Gold Medal Pedigree
Hearn will have the chance to gloat about making the right move by signing Cuban talent Cruz after he captured the gold medal at the 2020 Olympics. The other promoters missed their opportunity to sign Andy.
Avoided Since Day One
Cruz (6-0, 3 KOs) has been avoided since turning pro in 2023. Unable to get fights against Shakur Stevenson, Keyshawn Davis, and Geronta Davis, Cruz has had to work in obscurity despite having superior amateur credentials to those fighters. None of them won gold medals. They certainly didn’t post a 135-9 amateur record like Cruz.
Muratalla (23-0, 17 KOs) is seen as the unlucky one by fans, as he was recently elevated to IBF 135-lb champion status after the former belt-holder Vasily Lomachenko chose to retire rather than face him. He wasn’t fast enough to get a voluntary defense in before the IBF ordered him to defend against Andy Cruz.
Why Hearn Is Confident
“Raymond is a fantastic fighter and a worthy World champion, but I believe he’s coming up against a man that is going to be very difficult to beat, not just on January 24, but beyond for many a year. Andy has shown so far that he has every tool in the box to convert his stunning amateur success into a lengthy reign at the elite level in the paid ranks, and we will get to see if I’m right in a brilliant fight,” said promoter Eddie Hearn.
Muratalla has excellent punching power, but he hasn’t fought anyone nearly as good as Cruz during his nine-year career. The closest thing that Muratalla has come to fighting someone like him is when he fought Tevin Farmer in 2024. But even he is nothing like Cruz.
Muratalla is coming off a 12-round unanimous decision win over Zaur Abdullaev on May 10, 2025, in San Diego. He captured the IBF interim lightweight title with that win.
Last Updated on 12/02/2025
