Muratalla Should Defend IBF Title Vs Andy Cruz

Sergio Mora says Raymond Muratalla should go ahead and defend his IBF lightweight crown against mandatory challenger Andy Cruz next, rather than vacate his title to avoid a loss.

Half-Million Dollar Reality Check

Cruz’s promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom, won the purse bid last Thursday, October 23, 2025, with a winning bid of $888,888.88, outbidding Muratalla’s promoter, Top Rank, at $550,000. Muratalla is expected to receive around $500,000 of that money.

Muratalla (23-0, 17 KOs) could have potentially made more if he’d chosen to defend against Cruz (6-0, 3 KOs) on the upcoming November 22nd Riyadh Season card, but reportedly couldn’t agree to financial terms. Now, Muratalla, 28, is in a situation where he has to defend the IBF belt against an opponent he’ll be the underdog against.

“He collects that half a million dollar paycheck, and gives it all he has against a guy that he’s going to be an underdog with against Andy Cruz. He’s not just a boxer anymore, he’s a puncher,” said commentator Sergio Mora to Chris Mannix’s YouTube channel about IBF lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla defending against the talented Cuban Andy Cruz.

Muratalla will have a puncher’s chance against the unbeaten Cruz. If he can land something big, it’s possible he could KO him. Cruz was hurt in the fourth round of his fight against Antonio Moran on August 3, 2024, at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

Moran landed a hard left hook to the head of Cruz with 30 seconds left in the 4th, staggering him, causing him to hold for the remainder of the round. Cruz came back strong to dominate the fifth and sixth before knocking out Moran in the 7th.

In Cruz’s last fight against Hironori Mishiro, he destroyed him in five rounds in an IBF 135-lb title eliminator on June 14, 2025. That was the vintage Cruz that had beaten Keyshawn Davis four times in the amateurs and compiled a 135-9 record before turning pro.

“I think he takes it. It’s a strategic financial decision. I think they [Team Muratalla] know they come up short, because he would be coming up short against one of the all-time great amateur boxers in Andy Cruz. So, defend your championship, pick up a check, and learn something on the job,” said Mora.

Top Rank’s Broadcast Blackout

If Muraralla vacates his IBF title, he would be back to square one, career-wise, toiling away as a contender, likely fighting on Top Rank’s undercards if and when they eventually get a new broadcast deal. Top Rank is currently without a broadcaster. Their eight-year run with ESPN expired in August 2025. Their final card with ESPN was on July 26, 2025.