Eddie Hearn says the IBF has ordered Raymond Muratalla to defend his light-weight title towards necessary Andy Cruz. Matchroom promoter Hearn states that it’ll go to purse bids, and he intends to win it to stage the Muratalla-Cruz struggle in January 2026.
Cruz’s Prevented Repute
The 2020 Olympic gold medalist Cruz has been one of the vital prevented fighters within the light-weight division since turning professional in 2023. All the large names, like Shakur Stevenson, Gervonta Davis, and Keyshawn Davis, have ignored him.
Muratalla’s Missed Payday
“They ordered the struggle yesterday. It’s now ordered. Andy Cruz vs. Raymond Muratalla shall be subsequent. Muratalla turned down a struggle in Saudi,” mentioned Eddie Hearn to Ring Journal. “We had a fantastic monetary alternative to try this struggle on November twenty second. However Muratalla couldn’t conform to a deal.”
High Rank missed out on getting Muratalla a title-milking struggle earlier than having to face Andy Cruz. They seemingly would have carried out so if their contract with ESPN hadn’t expired on July 26, 2025.
“We all know Muratalla was doubtlessly going to take a voluntary towards Floyd Schofield, however Schofield has gone a special route,” mentioned Hearn.
That explains why Muratalla selected to not conform to the struggle towards Cruz on the November card. Schofield would have a extra winnable struggle for Raymond than going up towards Cruz, and doubtlessly getting outboxed in a one-sided struggle.
It will be attention-grabbing to know if Muratalla regrets not accepting the deal to struggle Andy Cruz on the November twenty second card, because it appears like he would have obtained a considerable payday. It’s unclear whether or not he’ll obtain the identical cash defending towards Cruz in January 2026 with out Turki Alalshikh being concerned.
Muratalla’s transient reign because the IBF champion might finish towards the proficient 2020 Olympic gold medalist Cruz. The High Rank-promoted Raymond was elevated to full IBF light-weight champion on June 9, 2025. This got here after the earlier champion, Vasily Lomachenko, introduced his retirement on June 5, 2025.
Hearn Targets January Conflict
“Now, we’ve acquired purse bids. I don’t care. Cruz goes to struggle for a world title,” mentioned Hearn about Andy Cruz. “It’s a large alternative. Muratalla is a good fighter. That’s an amazing struggle. We’ll look to win that bid and maintain that struggle in January.”
It’s about time for Cruz to get a world title shot. The 2-year professional Cruz is ranked #1 IBF, #1 WBC, #3 WBA, and #7 WBO.
Shakur Stevenson could be relieved to listen to the information of the IBF ordering Cruz to face Muratalla. The WBC had Cruz respiratory down his neck at #1, and he would have needed to defend towards him as soon as he returned to the 135-lb division in some unspecified time in the future after his tour at 140.
Written by Ken Woods, Ringside Boxing Analyst masking world title fights since 2018.
Boxing Information 24 » Andy Cruz Lastly Will get World Title Shot as IBF Mandates Raymond Muratalla Protection, Eddie Hearn Guarantees to Win Purse Bid
Final Up to date on 10/03/2025
