{"id":370137,"date":"2026-07-22T11:54:30","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T06:24:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=370137"},"modified":"2026-07-22T11:54:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T06:24:31","slug":"muratalla-rematch-stays-top-goal-for-andy-cruz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/07\/22\/muratalla-rematch-stays-top-goal-for-andy-cruz\/","title":{"rendered":"Muratalla Rematch Stays Top Goal For Andy Cruz"},"content":{"rendered":"

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If he\u2019s serious about dropping to 130, he\u2019ll must begin climbing the rankings in a brand new division. If the priority stays a rematch with Muratalla, staying at lightweight makes more sense. Attempting to keep each options open may leave him waiting for opportunities that never arrive.<\/p>\n

After his victory over Montoya, Cruz said he\u2019s prepared for a brand new challenge.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like challenges, and tonight was just that. My last fight didn\u2019t go my way, but I used to be in a position to show what I even have this time,\u201d said Cruz,<\/p>\n

Cruz made it clear that Muratalla stays the opponent he wants most.<\/p>\n

\u201cTruthfully, the No. 1 thing on my list is to get the rematch against Muratalla,\u201d said Cruz to The Ring<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI can beat [WBO lightweight champion Abdullah] Mason. I can beat whoever isn\u2019t Mason. I feel Mason is a fantastic fighter with a shiny future. The one query is when the fight will occur.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel the fights on August 1 are going to be great as well. I see Muratalla coming out victorious. Zepeda and Roach will likely be a fair more interesting fight, but I even have to present Roach more of the sting.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Cruz also discussed Lomachenko, saying the previous three-division champion has long been someone he admired due to their achieved amateur careers.<\/p>\n

The challenge for Cruz isn\u2019t identifying opponents. It\u2019s creating a practical path to those fights.<\/p>\n

Champions at 130 and 135 have little incentive to volunteer for a technically gifted opponent who isn\u2019t yet a significant industrial draw. Unless Cruz earns one other mandatory position through the rankings or a titleholder has no higher alternatives, he may find himself waiting longer than expected despite possessing the talent to compete with anyone in either division.<\/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><\/div>\n

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If he\u2019s serious about dropping to 130, he\u2019ll must begin climbing the rankings in a brand new division. If the priority stays a rematch with Muratalla, staying at lightweight makes more sense. Attempting to keep each options open may leave him waiting for opportunities that never arrive. After his victory over Montoya, Cruz said he\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":370138,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[338],"tags":[3270,4011,35467,10715,7760,3011,1111],"class_list":["post-370137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-andy","tag-cruz","tag-muratalla","tag-remains","tag-rematch","tag-target","tag-top"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t