Andy Cruz falls to Raymond Muratalla in his first major professional challenge

The Cuban Andy Cruz suffered the first defeat of his professional career on January 24, 2026, losing by majority decision to the lightweight world champion of the International Boxing Federation, Raymond Muratalla, in a headline fight held in Las Vegas, United States.

The Olympic king as an amateur, arriving undefeated with a record of 6-0, started the fight by showcasing his key strengths: mobility, sharp defensive awareness, switch fighting stance, and a remarkable ability to evade punches. During the initial rounds, he successfully troubled Muratalla, who took time to find the distance and rhythm against the Cuban's elusive style.

However, as the fight progressed, the American champion imposed his experience and constant pressure. Muratalla dominated the center of the ring, increased the volume of his punches, and forced Cruz to retreat more frequently.

Although the player from Matanzas responded with isolated counterattacks, his offensive was limited and lacked the ambition needed to turn the tide in his favor.

Physical wear and tear also played a crucial role. Andy faced a scheduled 12-round fight for the first time and showed signs of fatigue in the final rounds. At times, his boxing reverted to patterns more typical of the amateur style: excessive movement, minimal combinations, and an almost total focus on avoiding punishment, which allowed Muratalla to dominate in the decisive stretch.

Finally, the judges awarded victory to Raymond Muratalla by majority decision, with scorecards of 118-110 and 116-112 in his favor, while a third judge ruled it a draw at 114-114. The champion finished stronger and presented a more solid image in the key moments of the fight.

According to Periódico Cubano, the defeat momentarily halts Andy Cruz's rise in professional boxing and raises questions about the adjustments he needs to make to compete at the highest level in the demanding lightweight division.

Despite the setback, his talent and technical foundation remain undeniable, although the result confirmed that the transition from amateur boxing to professional requires something more than defensive elegance.

In contrast, Muratalla is establishing itself as one of the strong names in the category and is positioning himself as a serious candidate for a potential unification of titles, in a landscape that also includes champions like Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta Davis.

On the same card, Cuban Ronny Álvarez maintained his unbeaten record by defeating Uruguayan Braulio Matías Ferreira by technical knockout in the sixth round. The former youth world champion thus secured his sixth professional victory, reaffirming his status as one of the promising talents in Cuban professional boxing.