Andy Cruz Is A Problem Muratalla Didn’t Ask For

On January 24, 2026, Muratala will defend his title for the first time against a fighter that few champions volunteer to face – and almost none of whom follow him.

Mandatory change of equation

Cruz does not enter this fight as a competitor seeking to announce himself. It arrived as a structural problem.

With an amateur record of 140-9 and years spent neutralizing pressure fighters in the Cuban regime, Cruz brings a skill set that rarely produces fireworks but often causes frustration. This is important for Muratullah, whose success has come largely from early pressure and power.

This was not the defense Muratala had planned. He’s the one he has to deal with.

A clash of style, not star power

Muratalla is most effective when he can close the distance early, use power, and allow physicality to dictate the tempo. Many of his stops came before competitors could settle or adjust.

Cruz is designed to dismantle this approach

It relies on timing, distance control, and counter-punching – precise tools that punish front foot pressure. Speed, not power, is the deciding factor in that equation, and Cruz is at the top there.

For Muratala, it’s not about trading. It’s about finding a way to disrupt a rhythm that rarely breaks on its own.

Why cruise is preferred

Oddsmakers have installed Cruz as the betting favourite, despite Muratala entering as champion. That alone tells the story.

Cruz is the type of fighter who makes the belts secondary to the risks. At 135 years old, few top names showed interest in him, not because he lacked ability, but because he offered little upside compared to the danger.

This is a classic case of a mandatory challenger with greater artistic authority than commercial appeal – and those are often the most annoying fights for champions.

First defense test

The match will be broadcast on DAZN from Fontainebleau Las Vegas, but the setup won’t make the task any easier.

For Muratala, it’s about proving adaptability, not toughness. Pressure alone will not be enough. He will need patience, discipline and a way to keep Cruz from turning the fight into a long technical exercise.

For Cruz, it’s a chance to confirm what many already believe, which is that the lightweight avoidance was no fluke.

What is this battle really?

This is not a glamorous defence. It’s a skills test. And for a champion making his first defense, facing Andy Crews is as unforgiving a way to start as the division can offer.