Sergio Mora says Raymond Muratalla ought to go forward and defend his IBF light-weight crown towards obligatory challenger Andy Cruz subsequent, relatively than vacate his title to keep away from a loss.
Half-Million Greenback Actuality Test
Cruz’s promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom, gained the purse bid final Thursday, October 23, 2025, with a profitable bid of $888,888.88, outbidding Muratalla’s promoter, Prime Rank, at $550,000. Muratalla is predicted to obtain round $500,000 of that cash.
Muratalla (23-0, 17 KOs) may have doubtlessly made extra if he’d chosen to defend towards Cruz (6-0, 3 KOs) on the upcoming November twenty second Riyadh Season card, however reportedly couldn’t conform to monetary phrases. Now, Muratalla, 28, is in a state of affairs the place he has to defend the IBF belt towards an opponent he’ll be the underdog towards.
“He collects that half one million greenback paycheck, and offers all of it he has towards a man that he’s going to be an underdog with towards Andy Cruz. He’s not only a boxer anymore, he’s a puncher,” mentioned commentator Sergio Mora to Chris Mannix’s YouTube channel about IBF light-weight champion Raymond Muratalla defending towards the gifted Cuban Andy Cruz.
Muratalla could have a puncher’s probability towards the unbeaten Cruz. If he can land one thing massive, it’s potential he may KO him. Cruz was harm within the fourth spherical of his battle towards Antonio Moran on August 3, 2024, on the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
Moran landed a tough left hook to the top of Cruz with 30 seconds left within the 4th, staggering him, inflicting him to carry for the rest of the spherical. Cruz got here again sturdy to dominate the fifth and sixth earlier than knocking out Moran within the seventh.
In Cruz’s final battle towards Hironori Mishiro, he destroyed him in 5 rounds in an IBF 135-lb title eliminator on June 14, 2025. That was the classic Cruz that had crushed Keyshawn Davis 4 instances within the amateurs and compiled a 135-9 report earlier than turning professional.
“I believe he takes it. It’s a strategic monetary resolution. I believe they [Team Muratalla] know they arrive up brief, as a result of he could be arising brief towards one of many all-time nice beginner boxers in Andy Cruz. So, defend your championship, decide up a verify, and be taught one thing on the job,” mentioned Mora.
Prime Rank’s Broadcast Blackout
If Muraralla vacates his IBF title, he could be again to sq. one, career-wise, toiling away as a contender, seemingly preventing on Prime Rank’s undercards if and once they ultimately get a brand new broadcast deal. Prime Rank is presently with out a broadcaster. Their eight-year run with ESPN expired in August 2025. Their closing card with ESPN was on July 26, 2025.
Boxing Information 24 » – An Analyst’s Perspective » Sergio Mora: “Raymond Muratalla Ought to Defend His IBF Title Towards Andy Cruz — Take the Combat and the Cash”
Final Up to date on 10/30/2025
