Andy Cruz\u2019s promoters at Matchroom won a purse bid today for him to challenge IBF lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla no later than December 5, 2025. However, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom is targeting January 2026 for the unbeaten 2020 Olympic gold medalist Cruz (6-0, 3 KOs) to challenge Muratalla (23-0, 17 KOs).<\/p>\n
Matchroom won today\u2019s purse bid with a\u00a0 $888,88 bid to Top Rank\u2019s $550,000. Earlier this month, on October 2, 2025, the IBF had ordered Muratalla, 28, to defend against mandatory Cruz.<\/p>\n
Muratalla\u2019s Missed Riyadh Payday<\/p>\n
Interestingly, Muratalla had reportedly failed to agree to a deal for him to defend against Andy Cruz on the November 22nd event headlined by David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde in Riyadh.<\/p>\n
As Hearn pointed out, that was a missed opportunity on Muratalla\u2019s part, as the financial deal he likely would have received would have been greater than the one he would have received to defend against Cruz on another date.<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udc8e \ud83d\udd1c \ud83d\udc51<\/p>\n
Purse bid won \u2705<\/p>\n
Andy Cruz will challenge for Raymond Muratalla\u2019s IBF World 135lbs Title in early 2026! @DAZNBoxing<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/vZXH7ZGn0r<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) October 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n That would have been the perfect chance for Muratalla to get a big payday in his first and possibly his last defense of his IBF title. If he loses his IBF strap to Cruz, as many boxing fans predict, he\u2019ll be kicking himself for not agreeing to fight him on Turki Alalshikh\u2019s November 22nd card.<\/p>\n Muratalla was elevated from IBF interim 135-lb champion to full IBF lightweight champion on June 9, 2025, following Vasily Lomachenko\u2019s retirement on June 5, 2025. The Top Rank-promoted Muratalla had captured the IBF interim belt on May 10, 2025, beating Zaur Abdullaev by a 12-round unanimous decision.<\/p>\n The Cuba-born Andy Cruz became the IBF 135-lb mandatory on June 14, 2025, knocking out\u00a0Hironori Mishiro in the fifth round in an IBF title eliminator.<\/p>\n Tom Galm\u2019s Final Take<\/p>\n Raymond Muratalla missed his window and shot himself in the foot with two blunders. He not only blew his chance to fight on Turki Alalshikh\u2019s November 22nd card for a nice payday, but then was too slow to make a voluntary defense to milk his IBF belt.<\/p>\n Today\u2019s purse bid was the icing on the cake of the bad luck that Muratalla has had since being elevated to IBF champion status. The title has been the equivalent of the Monkey\u2019s paw to Muratalla, bringing a curse since he got it.<\/p>\n Muratalla initially had the chance to take a voluntary defense of his IBF title after he was elevated on June 9, 2025. His promoters briefly attempted to put together a deal with Floyd Schofield. However, the IBF moved quickly, ordering Muratalla to begin negotiations with mandatory Cruz, which meant Raymond\u2019s window to make a voluntary defense had closed.<\/p>\n So, technically, Muratalla had an opportunity to make a voluntary defense, but due to his delay, he missed that window. Now, he\u2019s stuck with Cruz in a fight that he very well could lose, putting a quick end to his IBF title reign. So, many missed opportunities for Muratalla.<\/p>\n Tom Galm has covered the global boxing scene since 2014, specializing in heavyweight analysis, business trends, and fighter psychology.<\/p>\n Boxing News 24<\/a> \u00bb News<\/a> \u00bb Matchroom Wins Purse Bid as Andy Cruz Lands IBF Lightweight Title Shot vs Raymond Muratalla for Early 2026 Clash<\/p>\n Last Updated on 10\/23\/2025 \t<\/p>\n