{"id":368254,"date":"2026-07-18T14:02:19","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T08:32:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=368254"},"modified":"2026-07-18T14:02:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T08:32:19","slug":"andy-cruz-calls-muratalla-defeat-gasoline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/07\/18\/andy-cruz-calls-muratalla-defeat-gasoline\/","title":{"rendered":"Andy Cruz Calls Muratalla Defeat ‘Gasoline’"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Andy Cruz says the one thing his disputed loss to Raymond Muratalla achieved was giving him extra motivation. The Cuban lightweight contender believes the setback has made him a greater fighter as he prepares to face Abraham Montoya tonight in Carson, California.<\/p>\n

Cruz\u2019s first skilled defeat got here in January when he dropped a closely contested majority decision to Muratalla in an IBF lightweight title fight. Many observers believed the 2020 Olympic gold medalist had done enough to win, but Cruz isn\u2019t dwelling on the judges\u2019 scorecards. As a substitute, he says the experience taught him worthwhile lessons that he\u2019ll carry into the subsequent chapter of his profession.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIn 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,\u201d said Cruz to the Manny Boxing channel. \u201cI learned quite a bit. It was the largest fight of my skilled profession thus far against a fighter of Muratalla\u2019s level. It showed me I\u2019m 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\u2019re ready for the largest fights. What happened in my last fight was gasoline for me.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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\u2019s elite.<\/p>\n

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Ken Woods<\/strong> has been a senior author at Boxing News 24 since 2013, covering the game from every angle. With years of ringside reporting, he delivers fight news, results, and evaluation that cut through the noise. Ken\u2019s work consistently spotlights champions, contenders, and rising prospects, giving fans a pointy, knowledgeable view of the worldwide boxing scene.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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