Andy Cruz Calls Muratalla Defeat ‘Gasoline’

“In fact, you mostly take lessons and experience, even from victories, because nothing is ideal. You mostly learn something recent in every fight, and the Muratalla fight was no exception,” said Cruz to the Manny Boxing channel. “I learned quite a bit. It was the largest fight of my skilled profession thus far against a fighter of Muratalla’s level. It showed me I’m able to compete at this level. It was a really competitive fight, and beyond the result, each of us gained because we placed on a fantastic show and proved we’re ready for the largest fights. What happened in my last fight was gasoline for me.”

Cruz originally expected to face Albert Bell in an IBF title eliminator before Bell accepted a late opportunity against Abdullah Mason. Moderately than complain about losing one other direct path toward a championship fight, Cruz stayed focused on training and now meets Montoya, who enters the bout after upsetting Antonio Perez in April.

The 30-year-old believes a convincing victory will quickly put him back into the title conversation. After the frustration of the Muratalla decision and the cancellation of his eliminator, Cruz is treating Saturday’s fight as the start of one other run toward a world championship. The defeat can have delayed those plans, but he insists it also sharpened his focus and increased his determination to prove he belongs among the many division’s elite.