BoxRec

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.

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.

DIEGO PACHECO TO RETURN VS. ALEEM ON JULY 18, CRUZ-BELL IN CO-MAIN

Super middleweight contender Diego Pacheco is set for another homecoming.

Pacheco (25-0, 18 KOs) will return July 18 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, against Immanuwel Aleem (22-4-3, 14 KOs) to headline a Matchroom Boxing card on DAZN, it was announced on Saturday.

The long-planned IBF lightweight title eliminator bout between Andy Cruz (6-1, 3 KOs) and Albert Bell (28-0, 9 KOs) will be slotted in the co-main event spot.

In a parallel move, Matchroom also announced it signed Pacheco to a long-term extension. Pacheco has been promoted by Matchroom ever since his third pro fight in 2019.

Also set to be featured on the card are Arnold Gonzalez, Leo Atang, and Frank Espinoza.

Pacheco, The Ring’s No. 6-rated fighter at 168 pounds, left plenty to be desired from his 2025 campaign, which featured workmanlike, 12-round unanimous decision wins against Steven Nelson, Trevor McCumby and Kevin Lele Sadjo.

Pacheco was even dropped in his last contest against Sadjo in December, which marked his first fight away from longtime coach Jose Benavidez Sr., the father and trainer of David Benavidez.

Amid lukewarm performances and changes in management and coaching, Pacheco also passed on ordered fights against the likes of Christian Mbilli and Hamzah Sheeraz. Mbilli (WBC) and Sheeraz (WBO) have since both gone on to claim shares of titles in the division in recent months.

Pacheco, a 25-year-old from Los Angeles, will now return home to headline a show in Southern California for a third time, all while seeking to propel his career toward a title path.

Hall of Fame fighter and world-class coach Buddy McGirt will be tasked with getting Pacheco to the promised land in what is a serious step back in competition.

Aleem last fought in March and pushed Lester Martinez, The Ring’s No. 4-ranked super middleweight, to the distance during a lopsided, 12-round unanimous decision defeat, and his resume is devoid of a significant win.

Albert Bell can’t wait to make example out of Andy Cruz

Albert Bell doesn't understood why opportunities haven't fallen onto his lap.

He’s tall, rangy, has a stiff jab, and good movement. But while those traits allowed him to go undefeated in 28 fights, he believes it also made him too dangerous for some high-profile names to take him on.

However, after years of waiting, the Toledo, Ohio, native is finally getting a shot on the big stage when he faces Andy Cruz on July 18 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, in an IBF lightweight eliminator.

"What's delayed is not denied,” Bell wrote on his Instagram account. “I finally get my opportunity to show the world, what a lot of us been knew, and what the masses will soon find out about me.”

Bell’s motivation might be sky high, but so is Cruz’s. The Ring’s No. 4 135-pounder and 2020 Olympic gold medalist was beaten by IBF champion Raymond Muratalla in January. After losing by majority decision, the IBF threw Cruz (6-1, 3 KOs) a lifeline by offering him a fight with Bell, with the winner in line for a mandatory shot at Muratalla.

Bell, 33, figures to be an underdog considering the lack of top-tier competition.

Bell (28-0, 9 KOs) expects everyone to know exactly who he is when it's over.

“I'm that!” he wrote. “You'll see what I mean by that July 18th.”

Ring ambassador Abdullah Mason will now defend his WBO lightweight title against Albert Bell on July 4th in Cleveland, sources tell The Ring’s @MikeCoppinger. Joe Cordina, who is from Wales, is out due to visa issues.

Bell was set to fight Andy Cruz in a title eliminator on July 18th in Los Angeles. A new opponent is being sought for the Olympic gold medalist.