What’s Next For Andy Cruz?
Andy Cruz stopped Hironori Mishiro in the eight round during their IBF Lightweight Title eliminator as we look at his next steps.
Cruz extended his record to 6-0, with two knockouts to his name. He is now in a mandatory position to face the champion Raymond Muratalla. The latter became the champion after Vasiliy Lomachenko’s decision to retire from the sport, which freed up the belt. The latter is undefeated with a 23-0 record, with 17 knockouts to his name. Muratall won the interim title after beating Zaur Abdullaev in his last fight before getting elevated once Loma retired.
Options
Alternatively, if that fight does not go ahead, there is the chance to chase the Keyshawn Davis fight. Cruz has beaten Keyshawn on numerous occasions during the amateurs, giving him the confidence he can do it in the pro ranks. However, Davis missed weight for his scheduled fight against Edwin De Los Santos, coming in excess of four pounds over the 135-pound limit. Davis has also said he will move up to 140, meaning Cruz is unlikely to do that unless he secures a belt at lightweight first.
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De Los Santos is also another option. Edwin’s fight with Davis was called off after the latter missed weight. De Los Santos is a credible name, with only one loss on his resume. He suffered a unanimous decision defeat against Shakur Stevenson in 2023, as he missed out on the vacant WBC Lightweight Title. De Los Santos has been out of the ring for a prolonged period while he has been through a training camp recently, making him ready for a Cruz fight if it presents itself. However, the main focus will be on winning a world title, as Eddie Hearn outlined.
“Andy has got a final eliminator this weekend, and then he’ll be mandatory for Muratalla for the IBF lightweight title. So, Andy will be world champion in the next two fights. Maybe, he’s very comfortable at 135 for the moment. “Andy Cruz has just got to win that fight to get his shot at the IBF lightweight,” Hearn said
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