MATCHROOM WINS ANDY CRUZ VS. ALBERT BELL PURSE BID
Matchroom Boxing needed just $298,000 to secure the rights for Andy Cruz and Albert Bell's IBF lightweight eliminator.
Bell, ranked slightly higher at No. 3, will take home the larger split with 60 percent, while the No. 4-ranked Cruz leaves the deal with 40 percent.
The winner will put themselves into position to fight IBF champ Raymond Muratalla.
Cruz fought Muratalla (24-0, 17 KOs) earlier this year and lost by majority decision. A few weeks later, however, the sanctioning body offered Cruz (6-1, 3 KOs) the chance to fight Bell in an eliminator after Lucas Bahdi initially declined.
Bell, a 33-year-old highly-ranked contender from Toledo, Ohio, has been waiting for an opportunity to fight on the big stage for a long time. In 2025, he made the most of two low-level appearances against Josec Ruiz and Keith Hunter, winning both by unanimous decision.
Cruz, The Ring’s No. 2-ranked 135-pounder, has also flirted with the idea of moving up in weight to take on Ring/WBO junior welterweight champion, Shakur Stevenson.
At the moment, Muratalla has an optional defense, but will be ordered to defend his belt against the No. 1 contender in October.
Andy Cruz vs. Albert Bell - IBF Title Eliminator
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Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
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Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
- Posts: 100664
- Joined: 24 Apr 2016, 11:59
Re: Andy Cruz vs. Albert Bell - IBF Title Eliminator
Hearn targets July for Pacheco's return, Cruz-Bell eliminator
Eddie Hearn is lining up two of his fighters for summertime returns with championship implications.
The Matchroom Boxing chief recently discussed the future of Diego Pacheco (25-0, 18 KOs), who fought three times in 2025, going undefeated against Steven Nelson, Trevor McCumby and Kevin Lee Sadjo. He's yet to fight this year but that's expected to change.
“It looks like July 18,” Hearn said. “[Pacheco] will fight in Los Angeles on his own show.”
Hearn didn’t mention an opponent, but The Ring’s No. 6 super middleweight was recently ordered to fight Troy Williamson (22-4-1, 16 KOs) in an IBF eliminator. The winner of that bout would be the mandatory contender for Osleys Iglesias, the IBF champion.
Pacheco, according to Hearn, will have a well-built card to support him, including Andy Cruz vs. Albert Bell.
“You’ll see that on the Pacheco card,” he said. “This Pacheco card is gonna be red hot.”
After weeks of stagnant negotiations, Matchroom won the purse bids to stage the fight, putting up $298,000 to do so. The winner will be mandatory challenger to IBF lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla.
Bell, a 33-year-old who’s ranked No. 3 in the IBF at 135 pounds, is unbeaten in 28 fights, albeit against lower competition. His last appearance came in August where scored a lopsided points win over Keith Hunter.
Cruz (6-1, 3 KOs), a 2020 Olympic gold medalist, lost by majority decision against Muratalla in his first crack at a world title in January.
Eddie Hearn is lining up two of his fighters for summertime returns with championship implications.
The Matchroom Boxing chief recently discussed the future of Diego Pacheco (25-0, 18 KOs), who fought three times in 2025, going undefeated against Steven Nelson, Trevor McCumby and Kevin Lee Sadjo. He's yet to fight this year but that's expected to change.
“It looks like July 18,” Hearn said. “[Pacheco] will fight in Los Angeles on his own show.”
Hearn didn’t mention an opponent, but The Ring’s No. 6 super middleweight was recently ordered to fight Troy Williamson (22-4-1, 16 KOs) in an IBF eliminator. The winner of that bout would be the mandatory contender for Osleys Iglesias, the IBF champion.
Pacheco, according to Hearn, will have a well-built card to support him, including Andy Cruz vs. Albert Bell.
“You’ll see that on the Pacheco card,” he said. “This Pacheco card is gonna be red hot.”
After weeks of stagnant negotiations, Matchroom won the purse bids to stage the fight, putting up $298,000 to do so. The winner will be mandatory challenger to IBF lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla.
Bell, a 33-year-old who’s ranked No. 3 in the IBF at 135 pounds, is unbeaten in 28 fights, albeit against lower competition. His last appearance came in August where scored a lopsided points win over Keith Hunter.
Cruz (6-1, 3 KOs), a 2020 Olympic gold medalist, lost by majority decision against Muratalla in his first crack at a world title in January.