Comments Thread For: Raymond Muratalla steps forward amid lightweight changing of guard

[BoxingUpdates]

There is suddenly a massive void atop the 135lbs division, which Raymond Muratalla hopes to fill this weekend.
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[steeve steel]

Garcia trying to look confident his fighter will take it, but he knows it's not going to be easy and a Muratella win is very far from being guaranteed. Odds are - 200 minimum for Cruz for a reason. And many assume if Cruz wins, it will be via decision. I'm not so sure. I think Muratella will lose the first few rounds then get frustrated, will come out swinging in the middle rounds, get countered heavily and finally get knocked out late in the fight.

[brankobugarski]

Garcia trying to look confident his fighter will take it, but he knows it's not going to be easy and a Muratella win is very far from being guaranteed. Odds are - 200 minimum for Cruz for a reason. And many assume if Cruz wins, it will be via decision. I'm not so sure. I think Muratella will lose the first few rounds then get frustrated, will come out swinging in the middle rounds, get countered heavily and finally get knocked out late in the fight.

I am with you here. Andy Cruz wins for sure. I am still flip flopping whether it is by points decision or by a KO. If I had to put my money on it I would say points decision. His hands are too fast and too accurate.

[LA_2_Vegas]

I could be wrong on this, but it seemed like Muratalla had the option between fighting Schofield or Cruz and he chose Cruz.

From what I remember, Muratalla has been buzzed/flashed KD a couple of times, but those were very early in the fight, like round 1 or 2. He came out lax both times, got caught against the ropes. I was thinking that Schofield could have really taken advantage of that kind of early action, but not so much Cruz. Maybe Muratalla would have lost both, but I liked this fight better than Schofield.



I just think that last fight Cruz had with Mishiro showed a path Muratalla could work with, at least with how he setups his right hands - I don't really want overstate it because it was just a couple of momentary shots, but Cruz gfot hit with a couple of right hands where he was fully exposed trying to escape out the backdoor in some sequences. The opponent was taking a clever angle and stepping with Cruz as he tried to move to his left. Again, it only happened a couple of times, but it looked like it was part of his plan and I thought worked when he tried it. Muratalla instantly popped into my mind while watching that -I was thinking Raymond could do similar. Cruz was never hurt, but one of those shots got his attention because he wasn't expecting that he'd be hit in that position. .


It's moreso when Cruz starts to get two-handed and opens up when Muratalla will struggle. He isn't great seeing the incoming shots, not a complex defense, but you can't just walk in. Maybe Cruz is faster, but if there is one word that is apt for Muratalla it's that his punches are crisp. Robert Garcia specifically saying he doesn't think Cruz will have a speed advantage, and I have to somewhat agree because RM is so sharp himself. Especially if it's tit-for-tat and Cruz is not able to open up and get fluid like he's shown. Seems like people are expecting he will be able to do that, so it's should be a good watch.

Muratalla was one of my favorite prospects early on so I'm just going to have fun and root for him in this one.. Cruz is impressive so far as well. Love the fight.

[SteveM]

Garcia trying to look confident his fighter will take it, but he knows it's not going to be easy and a Muratella win is very far from being guaranteed. Odds are - 200 minimum for Cruz for a reason. And many assume if Cruz wins, it will be via decision. I'm not so sure. I think Muratella will lose the first few rounds then get frustrated, will come out swinging in the middle rounds, get countered heavily and finally get knocked out late in the fight.

I have considered a late Cruz KO - he has the power and the precision. If he doesn't get the KO a knockdown or 2 would stamp a wide decision win.