Boxing
One world champion predicts Teofimo Lopez vs. Shakur Stevenson fight will be decided by this factor
Muratalla vs Cruz: Subscribe to watch - Saturday
Raymond Muratalla will look to defend his IBF lightweight world championship against Cuban fighter Andy Cruz in Las Vegas, and live on DAZN, on Saturday.
The bout marks back-to-back big weekends of boxing on DAZN as the month will end with Shakur Stevenson challenging for Teofimo Lopez’ WBO super lightweight world title in the headliner of a massive Ring VI card on January 31.
Although the undefeated Muratalla is laser-focused on making a statement against an Olympic gold medalist in Cruz, he did take some time to weigh in on the Lopez-Stevenson mega fight. And the more Muratalla thinks about the clash, the more he believes it will come down to one factor.
“I think Shakur is a really good thinker in the ring and Teo is also, so I see it being a good fight,” Muratalla began telling DAZN News recently over a Zoom session. “I think the winner would be whoever could keep the emotions in control.”
It's an intriguing take considering how sound in the sweet science both fighters are, with Stevenson as the skilled consummate ring general and Lopez, the boxer-puncher who has the tendency to rise up to his competition as he did against Vasiliy Lomachenko and Josh Taylor. All their skills considered, Muratalla is still quick to cite emotions as the major key.
Well, if Muratalla’s highlighted factor does decide the fight, who will do a better job of keeping their emotions in check? To that, Muratalla is not so sure.
“I don’t know who to pick to be honest with you,” he said, “but I would just like to see a great fight between them.”
Stevenson, the current WBC lightweight world champion, is actually moving up by five pounds to contend for Lopez’ WBO and The Ring 140-pound world titles.
Keyshawn Davis, a former lightweight world champion, is featured on the Ring VI card.
Muratalla (23-0, 17 KOs) enters this weekend in Las Vegas coming off a unanimous decision win over Zaur Abdullaev in May. Cruz (6-0, 3 KOs) produced two wins in 2025, edging Omar Salcido via unanimous decision in January before stopping Hironori Mishiro by fifth-round TKO in June.
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