Eddie Hearn expecting Andy Cruz to be made to wait for world title shot

Despite Andy Cruz establishing himself as mandatory challenger for a crack at Raymond Muratalla's IBF world title, promoter Eddie Hearn believes his charge will have to join a long line of fighters waiting in line to tackle the champion.

The supremely-talented Cuban registered the biggest win of his professional career at the weekend, making light work of Asian star Hironori Mishiro at Madison Square Garden to extend his unbeaten record to 6-0.

Cruz - who captured Olympic gold in Tokyo five years ago - has long been touted as a future world champion, and his latest victory has propelled him to the periphery of a title opportunity despite only turning professional less than two years ago.

However, despite the 29-year-old's rapid ascendancy, and subsequent mandatory position with the IBF, Matchroom supremo Hearn believes his fighter will be forced to wait for his opportunity.

"Obviously, Muratalla has been elevated, so, we have to see what plans he has," Hearn told DAZN at the weekend.

If he (Cruz) were mandatory for another governing body maybe he'd be at the front of the queue, because sometimes the rules aren’t quite as solid as the IBF.

- Eddie Hearn (DAZN)

"So, Muratalla being elevated complicates things somewhat.

"We believe he should fight his mandatory challenger immediately - Andy deserves his shot and we would like it if that were ordered, but let's wait and see."

One of the most decorated amateur fights of all-time, Cruz captured two gold medals at the Pan American Games, three gold medals at the AIBA World Championships as well as a career-defining gold medal at the 2020 Olympics.

And whilst he fully believes his destiny is to cement himself as a lightweight ruler in the professional code, the Latin American appears more than happy to bide his time in his quest to get there.

"This is one more step in my career, one more step to reach my main goal, which is to become a world champion,” he explained.

"If that can be done in my next fight, amazing, if not, then I will keep moving forward in my career because I know that I will reach the summit of the sport at some point.

"I just have to keep fighting and keep winning - it's as simple as that really."

Mark Mothershaw

• Matchroom
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