Andy Cruz is leaving Matchroom and abandoning an unusually favorable lightweight position to test his body at 130 pounds.
His team selected junior lightweight despite Cruz rehydrating to 149.2 pounds for his recent win over Abraham Montoya. Dropping another five pounds raises concerns about how much strength he will surrender before stepping into the ring.
“It’s just a matter of strategy. Yes, we look at the scale, but we look at what’s best for us with my trainer and team. We assessed that 130 is best for me,” Cruz told Inside the Ring.
Calling 130 his best division is difficult to reconcile with his history. Cruz won Olympic gold at the 138.9-pound limit in Tokyo, where amateur tournament competition required him to remain close to that weight. Now older and more physically developed, he intends to cut almost nine pounds below his Olympic limit.
The timing makes the experiment harder to understand. Raymond Muratalla is moving to 140, leaving Cruz in a strong position to compete for the vacant belt after his recent return to No. 3 in the IBF rankings.
Remaining at lightweight would also provide important fights against Abdullah Mason, William Zepeda, Floyd Schofield and Jadier Herrera. Cruz would not need another weight cut or a prolonged climb through a new set of rankings.
Greater earning potential may explain the decision. Emanuel Navarrete and O’Shaquie Foster provide recognizable targets at 130, while Ray Ford and Anthony Cacace offer further possibilities. Those opportunities are not guaranteed, and leaving lightweight sacrifices an excellent position for an experiment.
His victory over Montoya completed the promotional agreement that began with his professional debut. Matchroom guided Cruz through the early portion of his career and matched him against Muratalla in only his eighth appearance.
“Following this last fight I just had, I’m now a free agent. I’m allowing my team to do the work to guide me through the next steps in my career.”
Finding a company capable of delivering important fights at 130 will shape his next promotional decision. Another lengthy development period holds little appeal.
“It’s about looking for those great fights, and the fans want to see me in those great fights.”
Despite the official result against Muratalla, Cruz remains convinced that he did enough to win. He accepts that taking greater risks and applying more pressure might have produced a different decision.
“If I were afforded the opportunity to go back in time, I would make a few adjustments. I would take a few more risks and be a bit more aggressive. I feel like I did enough in that fight to get the victory, definitely.”
Treating 130 as a test gives Cruz the freedom to return to lightweight if the cut weakens him. By then, his current opportunity to fight for the vacant belt may have disappeared.
“I’m back. Showtime. It’s time for the ‘Diamond’ to shine.”
