Why Andy Cruz Is The Uncrowned King Of The Lightweight Division: Aims To Dominate Mishiro To Challenge IBF Champ Raymond Muratalla

2020 Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz says he’s “ready for war” in his 12-round IBF lightweight title eliminator against Hironori Mishiro this Saturday, June 14, at The Theater in Madison Square Garden in New York City. This fight could steal the show on the Richardson Hitchins vs. George Kambosos Jr. card on DAZN.

Cruz vs. Mishiro Eliminator

Andy Cruz wants to put on a masterclass performance to make a statement by dominating the 5’9 1/2″ Mishiro to let IBF lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla know he’s next. If that contest happens next, Cruz would be battling for a world title in just his 7th fight as a pro. That’s rare nowadays, as promoters tend to develop their fighters before placing them in world title situations.

Andy Cruz: Uncrowned King

Andy hasn’t been discussed much due to his still-young five-fight career, but many boxing fans believe he’s the next King of the 135-lb division. Cruz has the skills to defeat the lightweight champions Muratalla, Shakur Stevenson, and Gervonta Davis. He just needs the opportunity to fight them. I see Andy Cruz as the uncrowned King of the lightweight division.

He’s got more talent than any of the current champions, especially the weakest link, Shakur. Contender Abdullah Mason isn’t in the same league as Cruz either. Hopefully, Top Rank are wise enough to keep Mason far away from Cruz like they’d been doing with Keyshawn Davis. He needs to be protected from the Cuban wolf.

Cruz had tried to lure former WBO lightweight champion Keyshawn Davis to fight him, but he wanted no part of mixing it up with him after losing four times to the Cuban talent in the amateurs. The self-named ‘Businessman’ Davis chose to leave the 135-lb division rather than stay around and potentially lose a fifth time to Cruz.

Mishiro’s Challenge: Unprepared

It’s difficult to get a good gauge on Mishiro’s talent level because his opposition is barren of recognizable names. He’s a classic definition of a fighter who has toiled in obscurity his entire eight-year pro career in Japan.

It’s excellent that Mishiro is finally getting the chance to fight in the IBF title eliminator against Cruz, but it’s not under ideal circumstances. Mishiro is being thrown to the wolves here, being put in with Cruz, because he has no one on his resume to prepare him for this type of fight.

Ready for war 👊🏿 pic.twitter.com/6XgXxTVOlN

— Andy Cruz Gómez (@AndyCruzGomezJr) June 10, 2025