Andy Cruz lands the IBF title following the proposal of a corresponding room purse

The Champions of Andy Cruz at Matchroom won a purse try today that he challenged the IBF light champion, Raymond Muratalla, by December 5, 2025 at the latest. However, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom is targeting January 2026 for the winner of Cruz’s Unnamed 2020 Olympic Gold Medal (6-0, 3 KOS) to challenge Muratalla (27 Kos, 27 – KOS).

Matchroom won a purse offer today with a try of $ 888,88 to $ 550,000 Top Rank. Earlier this month, on October 2, 2025, the IBF had ordered Muratalla, 28, to defend against Cruz compulsory.

Riyadh Muratalla Failed Pay Day

Interestingly, it is said that Muratalla had not agreed to an agreement to defend against Andy Cruz on the incident on November 22 with David Benavidez against Anthony Yarde in Riyadh leading.

As Hearn noted, that was a missed opportunity on behalf of Muratalla, as the financial deal that would probably have had more than the one he would have had to defend against Cruz would be on another date.

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A purse application ✅

Andy Cruz will challenge for the 135 lbs IBF Raymond Muratalla world title in early 2026! @Daznboxing pic.twitter.com/vzxh7zgn0r

– Matchroom boxing (@matchroomboxing) October 23, 2025

That would have been the perfect opportunity for Muratalla to have a big payday in his first defense and possibly last of his IBF title. If he loses his IBF strap to Cruz, as many boxing fans anticipate, he will kick himself for not agreeing to fight him on the November 22nd Turki Alalshikh card.

Muratalla was promoted from an IBF 135-LB Interim Champion to an IBF full light champion on June 9, 2025, following Vasily Lomachenko’s retirement on June 5, 2025. by one 1 Abdullaevround.

Andy Cruz, born in Cuba, became compulsorily IBF 135-LB on June 14, 2025, beating Hironori Mishiro out in the fifth round in an IBF title eradication.

Tom Galm’s last look

Raymond Muratalla missed his window and shot himself in his foot with two mistakes. He not only blowed his chance to fight on a November 22 Turki Alalshikh card for a nice pay day, but then it was too slow to make a voluntary protection to milk his IBF belt.

Today’s purse application was the icing on the bad luck that Muratalla has had since being promoted to the status of IBF champion. The title has been equivalent to the monkey paw to Muratalla, bringing a curse since he found it.

Initially, Muratalla had the opportunity to voluntarily defend his IBF title after he was promoted on June 9, 2025. His champions briefly tried to make an agreement with Floyd Schofield. However, the IBF moved rapidly, ordering Muratalla to start negotiations with Cruz compulsory, which meant that Raymond’s window to make voluntary protection closed.

So, technically, Muratalla had the opportunity to make voluntary protection, but due to his delays, that window failed. Now, he is stuck with Cruz in fighting that he might very well lose, giving a quick end to his IBF title reign. Therefore, many opportunities lost Muratalla.