Andy Cruz Finally Gets Muratalla IBF Title Shot In Vegas

Matchroom revealed today that #1-ranked Andy Cruz will challenge IBF lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla for his strap on January 24, 2026, at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Cruz’s Fast Track to a Title

As Matchroom points out, the 2020 Olympic gold medalist Cruz (6-0, 3 KOs) is fighting for a world title in “just his seventh pro fight.” He’s a classic example of a fighter who has fast-tracked to the top, and for good reason.

Cuban Amateur Royalty Arrives

With an amateur record of 135-9, a perfect 4-0 record against Keyshawn Davis, the talented Cuban Andy Cruz has the kind of experience right out of the gate that he doesn’t need to be brought along slowly for 20+ fights before fighting for a world title.

The World Awaits 🌎

Andy Cruz challenges for Raymond Muratalla’s IBF World Lightweight Title in just his seventh pro fight 😮‍💨#MuratallaCruz | Jan 24 | @fblasvegas | @trboxing pic.twitter.com/JC6W8cGGmC

— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) November 14, 2025

Andy’s experience in amateur fighting on Cuba’s national team puts him ahead of even the world champions at 135, including Gervonta Davis and Shakur Stevenson. Neither of those belt-holders has Cruz’s steep credentials in the amateurs.

Top Rank’s Missed Soft Touch

Muratalla (23-0, 17 KOs) isn’t being given a chance to milk his IBF title with some soft defenses after being elevated from interim to the full champion status on June 9, 2025. There wasn’t enough time.

Muratalla would have needed his promoters at Top Rank to quickly schedule a fight for him to have secured a nice payday against a beatable opponent before being forced to defend against his IBF mandatory, Cruz. The IBF ordered the Muratalla vs. Cruz fight on October 2, 2025.

The Eddie Hearn-promoted Andy Cruz looked like 24k gold in his last fight, knocking out Hironori Mishiro in the fifth round on June 14, 2025, in an official IBF 135-lb title eliminator at Madison Square Garden in New York. Interestingly, that was an undercard gig for Cruz, fighting on the Richardson Hitchins vs. George Kambosos Jr. card on DAZN.

It was a peculiar situation where the cream of the crop fighter, the one with top-tier pound-for-pound talent, Andy Cruz, was given an undercard slot below fighters who arguably don’t exist in the same galaxy as his talent-wise. If and when Cruz dethrones Muratalla on January 24th, his situation will change dramatically.

What Happens If Cruz Wins

Cruz may continue to struggle to secure fights against the more popular fighters at lightweight. That’s been his problem since he turned pro in 2023. He hasn’t been able to secure fights against Shakur Stevenson, Gervonta Davis, or Keyshawn Davis.

Winning the IBF belt could see Cruz remain ignored by the top fighters. It would require Turki Alalshikh to step forward to entice the reluctant so-called elite fighters to face Cruz.

“This is the moment I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid. Raymond Muratalla is a great fighter, but I believe I’m on another level,” said Andy Cruz. “I’ve sacrificed everything to get here, and that’s why I came to the United States to make history in the best boxing in the world. On fight night, the world will see the real Andy Cruz and why I’m ready to become a World Champion.”