LAS VEGAS – Andy Cruz sees before him the opportunity Saturday to join an elite club of Olympic boxing gold medalists who’ve also won a world title as he seeks the IBF lightweight belt worn now by Raymond Muratalla.
To accomplish the feat, Cruz said he’s planning to emulate a personal hero who was among the 40-plus fighters who did the same.
“Sugar Ray Leonard … he was a fighter I didn’t know a lot about because we didn’t have access to professional boxing in Cuba, but when I was competing once, someone said I was the Cuban Sugar Ray Leonard,” 2021 gold medalist Cruz said.
“So when I heard that, I looked up [Leonard’s] fights. And you know what, maybe I’ll be following in his steps.”
The 30-year-old Cruz, 6-0 (3 KOs), is a -250 betting favorite over new champion Muratalla, 23-0 (17 KOs), and fulfilling what he says he believes is his destiny will likely launch him toward the types of showdowns that made Leonard the legend he is.
Anyone who was across the Strip from Saturday’s venue at the Fontainebleau and ringside at The Cosmopolitan one year ago this month recalls watching Cruz dominate Omar Salcido by unanimous decision, only to exit the ring and see recent silver medalists and world champions Shakur Stevenson and Keyshawn Davis standing before him.
The Americans delivered an expression that combined being impressed and frustrated. They may have wanted to reach for criticism, but the performance was so sublime, there was little they could do except nod hello and touch knuckles.
“Shakur was respectful, but my son [Keyshawn] was upset with his father, so we expect that,” kidded Cruz, who defeated Davis at the Summer Games in Brazil.
What impression does Cruz expect to leave all of his upcoming foes Saturday?
“I don’t know what they’ll be feeling,” Cruz said. “I can only tell you I’m here to face the best, and I’m going to win that title.”
As he sized up Muratalla Thursday at their news conference and faceoff, Cruz said he’s learned through his countless boxing experiences that “every fighter has their virtues and characteristics. They also have their defects and weak points. I can see [in Muratalla] that he’s a warrior and wants to go out and defend his title. I’m going for him. Whoever performs best wins the title.”
Asked how he confronts uncertainty or nerves in the ring, Cruz said once he sets foot into the ring, those feelings wash away and he moves on to dissecting his opponent.
“The reason I do that – solving the puzzle – is my preparation, and I also listen to music that gets me in the zone. I walk in there knowing I’m the best I can be,” Cruz said.
