Boxing
Andy Cruz understands what's at stake in Raymond Muratalla fight
Muratalla vs Cruz: Subscribe to watch - TONIGHT
There's already plenty at stake on Saturday night for Andy Cruz as he challenges Raymonfd Muratalla for the IBF lightweight championship from Las Vegas, live on DAZN (8pm ET/5pm PT/1am GMT).
Just seven fights into his career, Cruz (6-0, 3 KOs) is competing for a world title. It's unheard of for a fighter to be in such a position in a short amount of time. The last fighter of note to get a crack at a major belt that quickly is Vasiliy Lomachenko, who fought for a world title in his second fight and captured one in his third bout.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist understands the situation he faces. But there's more on the line as the lightweight division is pretty open. It's unknown what WBC titlist Shakur Stevenson will do if he wins his battle against Ring Magazine and WBO junior welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez on Saturday, Jan. 31, live on DAZN PPV. Then you have Gervonta Davis, who was stripped of the WBA belt and made champion in recess. And WBO titleholder Abdullah Mason hasn't made a title defense yet after capturing the vacant belt at the Ring IV in November. Cruz feels the winner puts themselves at the top of the mountain at 135 pounds.
"I've always considered myself to be the best since I began, since I came here," Cruz admits to DAZN News through a translator. "Since I started, I've just been looking for that opportunity. The opportunity I'll get on Saturday night to show what I can do, but of course, I believe the winner of this fight is the best in the division."
How does Cruz expect to emerge victorious in the biggest fight of his life when it's all said and done?
"You can expect an Andy Cruz that's going to put on a show, an Andy Cruz that will show that he's capable of doing what he can do, and an Andy Cruz that will come out victorious come Saturday," Cruz exclaimed.
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