Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz | DAZN - January 24, 2026

Who wins?

Poll ended at 25 Jan 2026, 04:53

Muratalla - Decision
2
13%
Muratalla - T/KO
2
13%
DRAW
0
No votes
Cruz - T/KO
3
19%
Cruz - Decision
9
56%
 
Total votes: 16

Ruthless-RKO
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Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz | DAZN - January 24, 2026

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

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Raymond Muratalla-Andy Cruz mandatory title fight ordered by IBF

Raymond Muratalla is back in the Andy Cruz business – if he wants to avoid being stripped of his title, anyway.

Boxing Scene has confirmed that the IBF has ordered a 30-day negotiation period for a fight between the two unbeaten lightweights. Top Rank and Matchroom Boxing, the respective promoters for Muratalla and Cruz, were instructed on Thursday to open talks for the mandatory title fight.

“Please be advised that IBF Lightweight Champion Raymond Muratalla is due to make the mandatory defense of the title [by] December 5, 2025,” IBF championships chairman George Martinez stated in a ruling obtained by BS. “The leading available contender in the division is #1 Andy Cruz.

“Negotiations should commence immediately and be concluded by November 2, 2025. If you are unable to come to an agreement for this bout within 30 days, IBF will call for a purse bid, pursuant to Rule 10.”

As previously reported by BS, Muratalla, 23-0 (17 KOs), originally planned to explore a voluntary defense before committing to a showdown with Cruz, 6-0 (3 KOs). At the time, the IBF indicated that California’s Muratalla had until February 10, 2026 – nine months from his interim title win over Zaur Abdullaev – to honor his mandatory.

The timeline has since sped up, as it is clear that no such fight is on the horizon for the reigning 135lbs titlist. Rumors of a targeted showdown with Floyd Schofield Jnr, 19-0 (13 KOs) proved to be false – never mind in advanced talks – when Schofield instead signed to face Joseph “JoJo” Diaz on a November 8 DAZN show.

Muratalla’s options are further limited by the fact that Top Rank is presently without a televised or streaming platform after its multi-year deal with ESPN expired earlier this summer.

Matchroom has been with DAZN since its 2018 U.S. launch and has every intention to secure the rights to this fight. The UK-based, global promotional outfit made a previous offer for the fight earlier this summer but was declined by Muratalla’s team.

Muratalla defeated Russia’s Abdullaev to win a secondary version of the IBF 135lbs title on May 10 in San Diego, California. The win came exactly 52 weeks after Vasiliy Lomachenko regained the full IBF title in a stoppage win over former lineal and unified champ George Kambosos Jnr.

Lomachenko had until October 9 to face Muratalla in a title consolidation fight but instead opted to retire from the sport. Muratalla was given an immediate upgrade but has not since made his way back to the ring.

Lomachenko’s retirement and Muratalla’s advanced title status also paved the way for Cruz to enter a final title eliminator. The 2020 Olympic Gold medalist for Cuba made proper use of the opportunity, a sixth-round stoppage of Hironori Mishiro on June 14 in New York City.

Cruz planned to return to the ring this fall if Muratalla moved forward with a voluntary defense. He and his team will instead spend the next 30 days either working on a deal or requesting an immediate purse bid, which either side can do at any point during the negotiation period.

Per IBF rule 5.D covering mandatory title fights, both fighters are obliged to honor the abovementioned ruling and negotiate in good faith.

Should Muratalla – as the defending titlist – fail to move forward with the fight, he will be stripped of the title.

Any effort by Cruz to go in another direction will result in his being dropped out of the top 10 IBF 135lbs rankings and ineligibility to fight an IBF-sanctioned bout for at least six months.
Last edited by Ruthless-RKO on 26 Nov 2025, 08:32, edited 5 times in total.
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Re: Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz - IBF Mandatory Ordered

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

IBF orders Raymond Muratalla to defend lightweight title vs. Andy Cruz

The on-again, off-again fight between IBF lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla and mandatory challenger Andy Cruz appears to be on again.

Matchroom Boxing head Eddie Hearn told The Ring that the sanctioning body ordered negotiations to begin this week for the fight to finally come to fruition.

Muratalla's and Cruz’s camps were in talks for their clash to take place on the Ring IV card on November 22 in Saudi Arabia on DAZN, but financial terms couldn’t be reached. Muratalla moved on to negotiations for a fight against Floyd Schofield that hit a wall once he settled in on his fight against Joseph Diaz on November 8.

“The IBF ordered the fight [on Thursday],” Hearn told The Ring. “Muratalla turned down the fight in Saudi Arabia. We had a great financial opportunity to do the fight on the November 22 card but Muratalla couldn't agree to a deal. Now we can have a purse bid and see what it goes for. I don't care, because Andy Cruz is going to fight for a world title. It's a massive opportunity against a great fighter in Muratalla. It's a tremendous fight and we are looking to win that bid and hold that fight in January.”

Muratalla (23-0, 17 KOs) won the IBF interim lightweight title in May by beating Zaur Abdullaev via unanimous decision. Muratalla, a 28-year-old from Southern California who is trained by Robert Garcia, was elevated to IBF's full titleholder after Vasiliy Lomachenko announced his retirement in June.

Cruz (6-0, 3 KOs) is the IBF's No. 1-ranked challenger. The 30-year-old Cuban and 2020 Olympic gold-medal winner earned his spot with the sanctioning body by knocking out Hironori Mishiro in five rounds in June.

Muratalla is ranked third by The Ring at 135 pounds while Cruz is fifth.
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Re: Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz - IBF Mandatory Ordered

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

Raymond Muratalla-Andy Cruz IBF title fight heads to purse bid on Oct. 16

The timeline has shortened to resolve matters surrounding the IBF 135lbs title.

Boxing Scene has confirmed that the ordered Raymond Muratalla-Andy Cruz clash will head directly to a purse bid hearing. The session has been scheduled for October 16, to be conducted via Zoom from IBF headquarters in Springfield, New Jersey.

Boxeo Urbano Network’s Cesar Seda was the first to report the development.

The hearing comes in lieu of a recently assigned 30-day negotiation period for the pair of unbeaten lightweights to work out a deal. There was never any expectation for talks to go very far; Top Rank (Muratalla) and Matchroom (Cruz) previously sought to stage the bout earlier this summer, only for Muratalla’s immediate team to head in a different direction.

Muratalla, 23-0 (17 KOs), originally planned to explore a voluntary defense before committing to a showdown with Cruz, 6-0 (3 KOs). At the time, the IBF indicated that California’s Muratalla had until February 10, 2026 – nine months from his interim title win over Zaur Abdullaev – to honor his mandatory.

The IBF then ruled that Muratalla was required to satisfy his mandatory by no later than December 5.

Muratalla’s options are further limited by the fact that Top Rank is presently without a televised or streaming platform after its multi-year deal with ESPN expired earlier this summer.

Matchroom has been with DAZN since its 2018 U.S. launch. The UK-based, global promotional outfit made a previous offer for the fight earlier this summer but was declined by Muratalla’s team.

There is no such option on Muratalla’s side, unless they are prepared to relinquish the title.

Muratalla defeated Russia’s Abdullaev to win a secondary version of the IBF 135lbs title on May 10 in San Diego, California. The win came exactly 52 weeks after Vasiliy Lomachenko regained the full IBF title in a stoppage win over former lineal and unified champ George Kambosos Jnr.

Lomachenko had until October 9 to face Muratalla in a title consolidation fight but instead opted to retire from the sport. Muratalla was given an immediate upgrade but has not since made his way back to the ring.

Lomachenko’s retirement and Muratalla’s advanced title status also paved the way for Cruz to enter a final title eliminator. The 2020 Olympic Gold medalist for Cuba made proper use of the opportunity, a sixth-round stoppage of Hironori Mishiro on June 14 in New York City.

Cruz planned to return to the ring this fall if Muratalla moved forward with a voluntary defense. He and his team will instead spend the next 30 days either working on a deal or requesting an immediate purse bid, which either side can do at any point during the negotiation period.

Per IBF rule 5.D covering mandatory title fights, both fighters are obliged to either move forward with the purse bid or take it one step further and reach terms in advance of the hearing.

Should Muratalla – as the defending titlist – fail to move forward with the fight, he will be stripped of the title.

Any effort by Cruz to go in another direction will result in his being dropped out of the top 10 IBF 135lbs rankings and ineligible to fight an IBF-sanctioned bout for at least six months.
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Re: Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz - IBF Mandatory Ordered

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

Raymond Muratalla-Andy Cruz title fight purse bid delayed one week

Raymond Muratalla and Andy Cruz will have another week to figure out their future plans.

Boxing Scene has confirmed that both parties were granted a one-week delay in the purse bid process. Their ordered IBF 135lbs title fight was due to head to a hearing Thursday but was rescheduled for October 23, following an agreed-upon request from Top Rank and Matchroom Boxing, the respective promoters for Muratalla and Cruz.

An extension is commonplace for such matters. However, this one was provided for a fight that was already in discussion for months and with at least one firm offer left on the table.

Muratalla, 23-0 (17 KOs), the reigning IBF lightweight titlist, originally planned to explore a voluntary defense before committing to a showdown with Cruz, 6-0 (3 KOs). The decision was made after initial discussions, which included the possibility of the fight landing on the November 22 Riyadh Season show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

At the time, the IBF indicated that California’s Muratalla had until February 10, 2026 – nine months from his interim title win over Zaur Abdullaev – to honor his mandatory. The sanctioning body subsequently ruled that Muratalla was required to satisfy his mandatory by no later than December 5.

Muratalla defeated Russia’s Abdullaev to win the interim version of the IBF 135lbs title on May 10 in San Diego. It came exactly 52 weeks after Vasiliy Lomachenko regained the full IBF title in a stoppage win over former lineal and unified champ George Kambosos Jnr.

Lomachenko had until October 9 to face Muratalla in a title consolidation fight. The double Olympic gold medalist and three-division titleholder instead relinquished the title and left the sport altogether this past June.

Muratalla was given an immediate upgrade but has not since made his way back to the ring.

Lomachenko’s retirement and Muratalla’s advanced title status also paved the way for Cruz to enter a final title eliminator. The 2020 Olympic gold medalist for Cuba became the mandatory challenger after his sixth-round stoppage of Hironori Mishiro on June 14 in New York City.

Matchroom originally sought a stay-busy fight for Cruz had Muratalla secured a voluntary defense. Those plans immediately evaporated once the IBF intervened and informed Muratalla of his updated obligation as its current beltholder.

Any effort by Cruz to go in another direction will result in his being dropped out of the IBF 135lbs top-10 rankings and declared ineligible to fight an IBF-sanctioned bout for at least six months.
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Re: Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz - IBF Mandatory Ordered

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

MATCHROOM WIN RAYMOND MURATALLA-ANDY CRUZ IBF TITLE PURSE BID

Andy Cruz has officially landed his first title shot.

On Thursday, at the IBF’s headquarters in Springfield, New Jersey, purse bids took place for Cruz vs. Raymond Muratalla (23-0, 17 KOs). Cruz’s promoter, Matchroom, and Top Rank, Muratalla’s handlers, were the sole bidders.

Matchroom came out with the winning bid, putting up $888,888. Top Rank’s bid was $550,000. In total, current IBF lightweight champion, Muratalla, is entitled to 65 percent of that bid, which is $577, 777. Cruz would pocket the remaining 35 percent, totaling $311, 110.

Cruz, the former two-time Olympic gold medalist became Muratalla’s mandatory challenger following a fifth-round stoppage win over Hironori Mishiro on June 14 at the Theater in New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Muratalla won the IBF 'interim' title against Zaur Abdullaev on May 10 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego. The 28-year-old was later elevated to full champion as Vasiliy Lomachenko, who held the full version of that belt, retired.

Matchroom will announce when and where their matchup will take place.
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Re: Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz - IBF Mandatory Ordered

Post by Ruthless-RKO »



🚨 MURATALLA-CRUZ LIKELY ON JAN. 31

👀 Eddie Hearn has said that the Raymond Muratalla-Andy Cruz IBF lightweight title fight will likely be his first U.S. show of 2026 on Jan. 31.
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Re: Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz - IBF Mandatory Ordered

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

RAYMOND MURATALLA VS. ANDY CRUZ LANDS ON JANUARY 24 IN LAS VEGAS

Raymond Muratalla and Andy Cruz reportedly have a date and location set in stone for their title bout.

Muratalla, the IBF lightweight champ, will defend against Cruz, the former two-time Olympic gold medalist, on January 24 at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas.

Boxing Scene.com was first to report the news.

Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing, Cruz’s promoter, won the right to stage the fight by outbidding Muratalla's handler Top Rank, which made the only other bid. Matchroom bid $888,888, Top Rank $550,000.

Muratalla will receive $577,777.20, 65% of the winning bid. Cruz will take home $311,110.80.

The 28-year-old Muratalla (23-0, 17 KOs) will be making the first defense of his 135-pound crown. He initially won the interim version of that belt against Zaur Abdullaev on May 10. He has since been elevated to full champion following the sudden retirement of Vasiliy Lomachenko.

Cruz (6-0, 3 KOs) became the mandatory challenger for that strap after dishing out a one-sided beating of Hironori Mishiro on June 14 in New York’s Madison Square Garden, resulting in a fifth-round stoppage.
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Re: Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz | DAZN - January 24, 2026

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

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Re: Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz | DAZN - January 24, 2026

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

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MATCHROOM ANNOUNCES EARLY 2026 SCHEDULE: THREE WORLD TITLE FIGHTS ACROSS FOUR CARDS

Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn promised to begin the 2026 slate with a series of big fight nights and Friday night, they announced four shows across UK and U.S. markets in January and February.

Having won the purse bid for Andy Cruz's impending world lightweight title shot, it has now been confirmed the Cuban will face newly-minted champion Raymond Muratalla atop a January 24 show at Las Vegas' Fontainebleau. This is the same venue WBO flyweight beltholder Anthony Olascuaga defended his title as part of the Canelo-Crawford fight week festivities in September.

Bozy Ennis-trained contender Cruz (6-0, 3 KOs) will fancy his chances against Muratalla (23-0, 17 KOs), especially given head coach Robert Garcia's admission the champion could be headed up to 140 pounds after this first championship defence.

The following weekend, January 31, another IBF title will be up for grabs when unbeaten junior middleweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev makes his long-awaited second defence against Sunderland's Josh Kelly at Newcastle's 11,000-seater Utilita Arena.

Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs) will again venture into enemy territory as he ends a 15-month absence from competition, though that won't faze him as Kelly (17-1-1, 9 KOs) has flattered to deceive at times and will face a serious step-up in competition on his return to Matchroom.

Three weeks later sees a rematch more than two years in the making, when former world champions Leigh Wood (28-4, 17 KOs) and Josh Warrington (32-4-1, 8 KOs) collide at Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena. Wood trailed 59-55 on two scorecards and 58-56 on the other, before landing a right hook and flurry Warrington didn't see coming to end proceedings in the seventh round.

They've both suffered humbling defeats and contemplated their future since then, but will run back one of 2023's most entertaining spectacles in Wood's hometown after his ninth-round stoppage defeat by Anthony Cacace in May.

The following weekend, Matchroom head stateside after brokering a deal to ensure the IBF/WBO title unification between Eduardo Nunez and Emanuel Navarrete is the next port of call for both men in Glendale, Arizona - home to one of the country's largest Mexican populations.

Nunez (29-1, 27 KOs) didn't have it all his own way but earned a gritty 12-round decision win over Christopher Diaz-Velez in his September homecoming, having overwhelmed Masanori Rikiishi for the 130-pound strap in Yokohama, Japan four months earlier.

Hearn bemoaned 'Sugar' feeling flat and drained from an emotional week, but he must be sharper next time out after facing off with Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs) in the ring post-fight.

The 30-year-old was slated to be facing Philippines' challenger Charly Suarez in an immediate rematch of their May 10 matchup, which ended prematurely due to an accidental headbutt and was later ruled a no-contest after seven completed rounds.

Instead, fans will be treated to an explosive all-Mexican showdown in a weight division needing a jolt like this with high-risk, high-reward opportunities on the horizon.
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Re: Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz | DAZN - January 24, 2026

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

Muratalla-Cruz, Wood-Warrington II on Matchroom's early '26 slate

Matchroom Boxing revealed their early 2026 slate of fight cards, which includes two world title bouts, a title unification fight and a grudge match.

On Jan. 24, Raymond Muratalla will defend his IBF lightweight title against 2020 Olympic gold medalist and undefeated Cuban fighter Andy Cruz at Fontainebleau in Las Vegas.

Muratalla (23-0, 17 KOs) won the vacant title in his last outing when he outpointed Zaur Abdullaev in May. His first title defense will be against the surging Cruz, who made his professional debut in 2023 and is undefeated with a record of 6-0. Cruz is coming off of an impressive fifth-round stoppage of Hironori Mishiro in June.

The following week finds IBF junior middleweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs) putting his title on the line against Josh Kelly (17-1-1, 9 KOs) at Utilita Arena in Newcastle.

Kelly has won seven straight fights since being stopped by David Avanesyan in 2021. Murtazaliev will make his second defense of the title he claimed in 2024 with a knockout of Jack Culcay. He finished Tim Tszyu in three rounds in Oct. 2024 and will be competing for the first time in over a year.

A grudge match between Leigh Wood (28-4, 17 KOs) and Josh Warrington (32-4-1, 8 KOs) will headline a Feb. 21 fight card at Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham.

When they met in Oct. 2023, Wood pulled off a come from behind knockout win over Warrington. Wood is looking to get back into the win column after being stopped by Anthony Cacace in May while Warrington hopes to avenge the knockout loss and win his second consecutive fight.

Finally, Emanuel Navarrete and Eduardo "Sugar" Nunez will clash in a junior lightweight unification fight on Feb. 28 at the Desert Diamond Arena in Arizona.

Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs) holds the WBO title while Nunez (29-1, 27 KOs) is in possession of the IBF championship. Nunez set up the unification fight with a unanimous decision win against Christopher Diaz in September. The fight was originally penciled in for March 7 at Footprint Center in Phoenix but has since been relocated to Glendale and will take place a week earlier.
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Re: Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz | DAZN - January 24, 2026

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

Raymond Muratalla 'in too deep' to be fazed by Andy Cruz

Raymond Muratalla has spent a lifetime watching his parents grind away at raising and supporting their family with no favors given; no special treatment expected.

That’s why when questions are raised about Muratalla’s inspired rise to becoming IBF lightweight champion and now moving toward his first title defense against Andy Cruz, the expected answers are flipped on their head.

What kind of celebration was there when Muratalla, of Fontana, California, learned that three-division champion Vasiliy Lomachenko was retiring at age 37 in June and thus anointing Muratalla as his successor?

“I think (trainer-manager) Robert Garcia called me. I was just with my family,” Muratalla said.

His longtime ambition fulfilled by that phone call, Muratalla, 28, said if he remembers correctly, he went out for pizza with his family to mark the occasion.

His teammates at Garcia’s boxing academy barely mentioned it to him.

“I don’t need a party, I don’t need a celebration,” Muratalla, 23-0 (17 KOs), said. “I’m good, man.”

In a similar vein came his reaction to confronting the gifted Cruz in his first title defense January 24 in Las Vegas.

There was no entitlement from the new, unbeaten champion, no protection from a promoter in Top Rank capable of pulling the strings to find an easier test.

“I’m just excited. I’ve always wanted these big fights,” Muratalla said. “I’ve always looked forward to these emotions happening. I can’t wait.”

Cruz is the 2021 Olympic gold medalist and now an undefeated mandatory top-ranked contender. Muratalla anticipates stepping right into that fire.

“Absolutely. Great opponent, great background. These are the kinds of fights we want. We want to make the fans proud, excited and happy,” he said.

Cuba’s Cruz, 6-0 (3 KOs), has elevated from his position as gold medalist, when he defeated former lightweight champion Keyshawn Davis in the finale, by performing strongly in victories this year versus Omar Salcido and Hironori Mishiro.

The 30-year-old Cruz stepped out of the ring versus Salcido in January to be greeted by both Davis and Stevenson, who have since left the division with their next bouts coming at 140lbs.

“Don’t matter to me,” Muratalla said of the industry respect for Cruz. “I don’t care who he is, what he’s been through. When we get in the ring, I’m putting the work in. I’m feeling good.”

That attitude is rooted in the same atmosphere that brought Muratalla up in the blue-collar household — the son of an air-conditioning maintenance father and a probation-officer mother.

Believing in the pride of rising each morning for the day’s tasks and staying devout to the idea no one can outwork you often are the greatest assets behind manifesting dreams into reality.

“ I know my experience, all the work I’ve put in,” Muratalla said. “The mindset is everything. That’s going to be the key factor.

“I’ve seen a few of [Cruz’s] fights. He’s good. He has a good boxing style. But I’m here to win and all that [about him] is going to be out the window when we’re in the ring. Whoever’s in front of me, I’m here to take out.”

It would be a special occasion to win his belt inside the ring, to declare that a new champion has arrived, even if all he needs afterward is a pepperoni pie.

With Stevenson likely vacating the WBC lightweight belt next year and Muratalla’s Top Rank stablemate Abdullah Mason, 21, replacing Davis as WBO titlist Saturday night, Muratalla said he’s driven by the idea of igniting a 2026 fighter-of-the-year campaign by defeating Cruz and going after those other belts.

“This means a lot. I take this very seriously and that usually sets me apart in the fights,” he said.

Not needing the fanfare and finding special treatment useless is defining.

“It don’t matter to me,” Muratalla said.

“I’m in too deep already.”
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Re: Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz | DAZN - January 24, 2026

Post by joshj909 »

If Cruz wins this, he's going to be Boxrec's lightweight #1 and might even be Boxrec p4p top 10 in 7 fights which is pretty impressive. Hearn then has to get him fights against Schofield, Stevenson, Mason, Tank, Keyshawn Davis and Lopez. There will no longer be any need for warm up fights just to pick up belts and disrupt the big American names.
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Re: Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz | DAZN - January 24, 2026

Post by Evander »

Quite like the look of this fight.
Muratalla might have his hands full though, Cruz is pretty good and had a fairly stellar amateur career with a gold medal at the Olympics among other things.
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Re: Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz | DAZN - January 24, 2026

Post by Evander »

It's hard to ignore the fact that Andy Cruz was a gold medalist at the Olympics and is now competing in pro boxing's Lightweight division at the age of 30 with a 6-0 record.
I'm not saying he hasn't got skills, he has, but how much of a lifespan does he still have at this point, he's gotta start fast tracking his career with a win in Las Vegas In January.
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Re: Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz | DAZN - January 24, 2026

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

Khalil Coe vs. Jesse Hart Rescheduled For Jan. 24 On Muratalla-Cruz Undercard

The light heavyweight bout between Khalil Coe and Jesse Hart is on again.

The Ring has learned Coe and Hart have been rescheduled to fight January 24 at Fontainebleau Las Vegas. Their 10-round, 175-pound fight will be streamed by DAZN as part of the Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz undercard.

Coe (10-1-1, 8 KOs), a native of Jersey City, New Jersey, and Hart (31-3, 25 KOs) were scheduled to square off October 11 on the Jaron Ennis vs. Uisma Lima undercard in Philadelphia. Coe was forced to withdraw earlier that month because of a hand injury from sparring.

Coe, 29, stopped Mexico’s Manuel Gallegos in the sixth round of his last fight, an immediate rematch May 30 in Guadalajara, Mexico. Gallegos (21-3-1, 18 KOs) dropped Coe four times and upset him by ninth-round TKO in their first fight, which took place in November last year in Philadelphia.

Hart, 36, has fought exclusively in one-round Team Combat League bouts since May 2024. He won the last fight that counted on his professional record a month earlier, when Hart stopped Daniel Aduku in the fifth round in Philadelphia.

Hart is most known for his two 12-round points losses to Gilberto Ramirez in fights for the Mexican southpaw’s WBO super middleweight title.

Muratalla, meanwhile, will make a mandated defense of his IBF lightweight title against Cuba’s Cruz in the main event January 24.

Muratalla (23-0, 17 KOs), of Fontana, California, is The Ring’s third-ranked contender for a vacant championship. Cruz (6-0, 3 KOs) is fifth.
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Re: Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz | DAZN - January 24, 2026

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

Madrimov will return on this card
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Re: Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz | DAZN - January 24, 2026

Post by Evander »

Against who
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Re: Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz | DAZN - January 24, 2026

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

Evander wrote: 19 Dec 2025, 22:50Against who
Don’t think it’s been announced
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Re: Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz | DAZN - January 24, 2026

Post by Evander »

How do you know then
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Re: Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz | DAZN - January 24, 2026

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

Evander wrote: 20 Dec 2025, 03:08 How do you know then
Cus they announced he will be on the card.

Plenty times boxers get announced for a card but opponent gets announced later.

Probably be a low level boxer
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Re: Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz | DAZN - January 24, 2026

Post by JxhDel. »

Going for an affirmation party of Cruz.
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Re: Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz | DAZN - January 24, 2026

Post by Sweet Dick Willie »

Nice card, especially if Madrimov is involved. By the way, does anyone know what his pal Bek the Bully is up to these days??
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Re: Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz | DAZN - January 24, 2026

Post by Evander »

Ruthless-RKO wrote: 20 Dec 2025, 06:01
Evander wrote: 20 Dec 2025, 03:08 How do you know then
Cus they announced he will be on the card.

Plenty times boxers get announced for a card but opponent gets announced later.

Probably be a low level boxer
That won't do him any good, not many people know who he is now.
Good boxer though.
Sendo Takeshi
Flyweight
Posts: 915
Joined: 23 Dec 2023, 15:07

Re: Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz | DAZN - January 24, 2026

Post by Sendo Takeshi »

JxhDel. wrote: 21 Dec 2025, 14:20 Going for an affirmation party of Cruz.
Yeah, sounds crazy on paper (23-0 vs 6-0), but Cruz is that good.
I'd be surprised if he loses this.
Ruthless-RKO
Welterweight
Posts: 104168
Joined: 24 Apr 2016, 11:59

Re: Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz | DAZN - January 24, 2026

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

Khalil Coe-Jesse Hart, Israil Madrimov, Omari Jones added to Jan. 24 Muratalla-Cruz DAZN show

Khalil Coe and Jesse Hart are back in each other's sights.

Matchroom Boxing has confirmed that the repurposed light heavyweight bout has been rescheduled, though they will take their East Coast rivalry to the other side of the country. Their scheduled 10-round clash will serve as the chief support to the Raymond Muratalla-Andy Cruz IBF 135lbs title fight as part of a January 24 DAZN show from Fontainebleau Las Vegas.

Also confirmed for the card:

- WBA 154lbs titlist Israil Madrimov, 10-2-1 (7 KOs), who faces Luis David Salazar in his first fight since back-to-back-defeats to Terence “Bud” Crawford and Vergil Ortiz Jnr.

- 2024 Olympic bronze medalist Omari Jones, 4-0 (4 KOs) – the only American to medal in Paris – faces Jerome Baxter Jnr, 7-0 (3 KOs) in a junior middleweight contest.

- Rising prospects, Ronny Alvarez, Kaipo Gallegos, Harley Mederos and Zaquin Moses all risk their perfect records in separate contests versus opponents to be determined.

Coe, 10-1-1 (7 KOs) and Hart, 31-3 (25 KOs) were due to meet last October 11 in Hart’s hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The bout was canceled less than two weeks from fight night when Coe – who hails from North Jersey – was forced to withdraw due to a recurring injury that didn’t fully heal by the end of training camp.

The stall out left Coe with just one fight in 2025. It was productive, as he stopped Manuel Gallegos in the 6th round of their May 30 rematch in Guadalajara, Mexico. Coe avenged his lone career defeat from when he was stopped in the 9th round six months prior in Philadelphia.

Hart, 36, will enter the ring having not fought since a knockout win on April 27 in Philly. The former two-time title challenger has put together a modest five-fight win streak – spray-painted over a five-year stretch – since a January 2020 defeat to Joe Smith Jnr to knock him out of title contention.

The lone other two defeats on Hart’s ledger came at the hands of Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, who was the undefeated WBO 168lbs titlist at the time of their September 2017 and December 2018 meetings. Ramirez – now a unified WBA/WBO 200lbs titlist - won both on points, settling for a majority decision in their rematch, which also marked his final title defense at the weight.

Headlining the show, California’s Muratalla, 23-0 (17 KOs) attempts his first IBF 135lbs title defense against Cruz, 6-0 (3 KOs), a Miami-based Cuban who claimed Olympic gold in 2021.
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