Andy Cruz to fight in final eliminator for next contest.
A phemomenal amateur boxer from Cuba is nothing new. With the likes of Félix Savón and Teofilo Stevenson, it can be argued that the Caribbean country has produced the finest amateurs of all time.
But what is not as common is when those phemomenal Cuban talents turn professional, as neither of the aforementioned did.
So, when one of them does, there tends to be a lot of excitement surrounding them and their future potential.
When Matchroom Boxing signed Andy Cruz in May of 2023, there were those who considered it the best signing Eddie Hearn’s promotion had ever made.
As an amateur, Cruz defeated those such as Sean McComb and Luke McCormack, and he four times bested future professional lightweight world champion Keyshawn Davis.
Because of his sheer experience as an amateur, Cruz was instantly thrown in at the deep end for his professional debut, facing the 35-7-3 veteran Juan Carlos Burgos.
Cruz would win the fight at a canter, scoring a shutout on two cards and claiming the vacant IBF international lightweight championship.
He would continue to face vastly more experienced opposition, beating them and rising through the ranks. Much like the legendary Vasiliy Lomachenko, Cruz was making long strides in short time in the paid ranks.
Something else he has in common with Lomachenko is that he fell short in his first world title fight, being outpointed by IBF champion Raymond Muratalla.
Such was Cruz’s performance, though, that he lost absolutely no respect with the defeat. And in fact, he may just get the chance to run it back very soon.
Cruz (6-1, 3 KOs) has now reached deal to face Albert Bell (28-0 (1), 9 KOs) in an IBF final eliminator. The fight is rumoured to be taking place on a Matchroom card in June, with the winner to become mandatory for Muratalla.
Should Cruz get the victory, he may get the opportunity to share yet another similarity with Lomachenko. That being that after failing in their first championship contest, the second time is the charm.
🚨 CRUZ-BELL DEAL REACHED FOR ELIMINATOR
✅ Been told by the IBF that Andy Cruz and Albert Bell have reached a deal for their IBF lightweight title final eliminator. Details to be confirmed for the bout that will make the winner the mandatory challenger to Raymond Muratalla.… pic.twitter.com/9RAwbu7Z77
— EverythingBoxing | Darshan Desai (@EverythingBoxi2) March 26, 2026
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