Matchroom Stuck With Andy Cruz Despite Muratalla Loss

Andy Cruz’s loss to Raymond Muratalla did not shake Matchroom’s commitment, as a new contract signed before the fight shows the defeat changed optics more than direction.

Cruz dropped a 12-round majority decision to Muratalla on January 24 in an IBF lightweight title fight that tested composure, legs, and ring IQ. The result landed on paper as a setback, yet the business side moved the other way. Eddie Hearn confirmed Cruz had already secured a fresh multi-year deal days before the bout, locking in the relationship regardless of outcome.

“We signed a new contract with Andy Cruz a couple of days before the fight,” Hearn said to Carlos Linares. “We still have fights with Andy Cruz.”

That timing removes any suggestion of reward or damage control. Matchroom acted early, betting on skill rather than a single scorecard. Talks are already circling a return in May or June, which tells you how the promoter reads the night.

What Matchroom saw despite the scorecards

Cruz took a risky assignment against a more seasoned pressure fighter and did not fold. Muratalla pushed forward all night, cutting the ring and throwing volume. Cruz boxed, jabbed, slid off the line, and picked spots. Two judges leaned toward aggression, even when it produced misses and ate counters. One card, 118–110, raised eyebrows.

Hearn was blunt about it. “I think his stock went up in that fight,” he said.

The fight could have tipped either way. Cruz landed clean, exited exchanges, and stayed upright under pressure. Muratalla forced pace, but effectiveness varied. From a technical lens, Cruz showed survival skills and calm, traits that matter when fights stretch.

Where Cruz’s style collides with the pro game

This is where the disagreement sits. Cruz’s stock did not rise. It slipped. The bout exposed a familiar pro issue. He gives ground too freely. Olympic movement and defense won gold in 2020. Pro judging favors engagement. Rounds tilt toward fighters who stand their ground and work inside.

Shakur Stevenson boxes with similar caution and gets rounds. Name value helps. Cruz does not have that margin. To win close fights, he needs to sit down on shots, develop an inside game, and add weight to punches that make judges pause.

Hearn floated a move to super featherweight. Cruz has not endorsed it. At 130, the list is short. Emanuel Navarrete. O’Shaquie Foster. Lightweight offers more traffic and more leverage, from Shakur Stevenson to William Zepeda and Lamont Roach.

Cruz remains skilled, signed, and active. The next step is less movement, more authority.