Raymond Muratalla Edges Andy Cruz via Majority Decision to Retain IBF Title at Fontainebleau Las Vegas

The electric hum of anticipation filled the air at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas on January 24, 2026, as Raymond “Danger” Muratalla defended his IBF lightweight crown against the highly touted Andy Cruz in a gritty, tactical war that went the distance. Muratalla, the underdog champion, secured a majority decision victory with scores of 114-114, 116-112, and a controversial 118-110, weathering Cruz’s slick counters to retain his belt in a fight that had fans on their feet. Broadcast live on DAZN, the bout drew sharp reactions on X, with one user posting, “Muratalla proved the haters wrong—champ for a reason! #MuratallaCruz” amid a sea of debates over the judging. A sold-out crowd of around 4,000 created a pulsating atmosphere, amplified by the fight-week buzz of weigh-in stares and Vegas neon, turning the Strip into a boxing hotspot.

Fight Overview

Date: January 24, 2026 Venue: Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Nevada Start Time: Approximately 11:00 PM ET (main event ring walks) Stakes: IBF Lightweight World Title defense—Muratalla’s first as champion, against Cruz’s bid to join the elite Olympic gold-to-world title club. Odds: Cruz entered as a heavy favorite at -1600, with Muratalla as the +220 underdog, reflecting Cruz’s amateur pedigree despite his limited pro experience. X Buzz Quote: “This is such a big fight for the 135 pound weight class! RAYMOND MURATALLA vs ANDY CRUZ‼️ See yall in Las Vegas 1/24/26! #Boxing” — from a viral post hyping the matchup. Crowd Size and Atmosphere: Roughly 4,000 fervent fans packed the BleauLive Theater, creating a tense, intimate vibe with Cuban flags waving for Cruz and Southern California chants for Muratalla. Poll Lean: Pre-fight X polls leaned heavily toward Cruz (65-35 split), citing his speed and Olympic gold, but Muratalla’s grit shifted sentiment post-fight.

Raymond Muratalla Age: 29 Origin: Fontana, California, USA Record: 24-0 (17 KOs) Stance: Orthodox Height/Reach: 5’8″ / 72″ Key Stats: Lands 6.2 punches per round with 42% accuracy in recent fights; known for body work and late-round surges. Recent Form: Undefeated streak includes stoppage wins over Tevin Farmer and Jeremia Nakathila; claimed the vacant IBF title via a dominant decision over Denys Berinchyk in 2025. Training/X Clips: Muratalla’s camp featured intense sparring sessions shared on X, showing sharp body hooks and footwork drills under trainer Robert Garcia. One clip went viral: “Grinding for that gold—nobody taking this belt! #DangerZone.” Notable Trait: Relentless pressure fighter with underrated power, often breaking opponents down in the championship rounds. Quote/Tweet: “I deserved to be here and I showed it. Cruz’s Olympic gold didn’t matter—I was in the gym working hard.”

Andy Cruz Age: 30 Origin: Matanzas, Cuba Record: 6-1 (3 KOs) Stance: Orthodox Height/Reach: 5’9″ / 70″ Key Stats: Connects at 38% accuracy with elite hand speed; averages 5.8 landed punches per round in pro bouts. Recent Form: Blazed through six pro wins, including a shutout over Brayan Zamarripa; Olympic gold medalist (2021) who defeated Keyshawn Davis en route to glory. Training/X Clips: Cruz posted slick mitt work on X, highlighting his counters and footwork: “Ready for war—let’s make history! #Diamante.” Clips from Cuban-style drills emphasized his precision. Notable Trait: Amateur wizard with blinding speed and timing, adapting quickly to pro ranks despite limited experience. Quote/Tweet: “I’m not happy, but that’s life—a loss will not define me. I thought I did enough to get the victory.”

The Fight: Round-by-Round Breakdown

Rounds 1: Cruz came out firing, beating Muratalla to the punch with a crisp right to the head and a quick left, showcasing his superior hand speed. Muratalla responded late with a solid body shot, but Cruz edged it on activity. CompuBox: Cruz 15/42 (36%), Muratalla 10/38 (26%). Scoring: 10-9 Cruz.

Rounds 2-3: The action heated up with fierce exchanges; Muratalla landed a thudding right in Round 2 that backed Cruz up, while Cruz countered with rapid flurries to the face. Round 3 saw body blows traded for head shots, gripping the crowd—Cruz’s precision versus Muratalla’s power. CompuBox (combined): Cruz 32/85 (38%), Muratalla 28/79 (35%). Scoring: 10-9 Muratalla (Rd 2), 10-9 Cruz (Rd 3).

Rounds 4-6: Cruz withstood Muratalla’s pressure in Round 4, sticking to his plan with sharp jabs. By Round 6, Muratalla targeted the body relentlessly, appearing to hurt Cruz early with a series of hooks to the torso that slowed the Cuban. CompuBox (combined): Muratalla 45/132 (34%), Cruz 41/110 (37%). Scoring: Even across judges, with Muratalla pulling ahead 10-9 in Rd 6.

Rounds 7-9: Even trading in Round 7, where Garcia urged Muratalla for more body work after a midsection smack. Cruz stayed busy in Round 8, winning it with volume, but Muratalla’s pressure mounted. Round 9 opened with Cruz’s clean blows, emphasizing his timing despite absorbing punishment. CompuBox (combined): Cruz 52/145 (36%), Muratalla 48/152 (32%). Scoring: 10-9 Cruz (Rd 8-9), 10-9 Muratalla (Rd 7).

Rounds 10-12: Cruz landed a hard right early in Round 10, but Muratalla’s late surge took over—Muratalla out-landed Cruz 33-27 in the final two rounds, applying constant pressure and backing him up with power shots. The championship rounds sealed it for the champ. CompuBox (combined): Muratalla 44/110 (40%), Cruz 36/95 (38%). Scoring: 10-9 Muratalla across all three. Overall CompuBox: Cruz 176/537 (33%), Muratalla 175/611 (29%), with Muratalla landing 13 more power punches.

Key Moments and Impact

• Muratalla’s Body Attack: His relentless midsection work in Rounds 6-7 visibly drained Cruz, shifting momentum and highlighting Muratalla’s conditioning edge.
• Cruz’s Early Speed: The Cuban’s quick counters in the opening frames kept Muratalla honest, but he faded against the pressure, showing pro inexperience beyond 10 rounds.
• Fan/Media Reaction: X erupted with debates over the 118-110 card—”Robbery?” trended briefly—while media praised the fight’s quality, calling it a “lightweight classic.”
• No Major Injuries: Both fighters emerged without cuts or knockdowns, though Cruz appeared battered from body shots, per ringside reports.

Post-Fight Analysis and Implications

Muratalla beamed in victory, stating, “I proved I deserved to be a champion—I came to do what I had to do.” He eyes bigger names next, like Shakur Stevenson or Teofimo Lopez, positioning himself as a top lightweight contender. Purse details from the bid: Muratalla earned around $578,000 (65% split), Cruz about $311,000, with no performance bonuses announced. Cruz, gracious in defeat, said, “I always want to do more,” vowing a comeback. The result shakes the 135-pound division, elevating Muratalla to potential unification talks while Cruz drops but remains a threat with his skills.

Event Context and Las Vegas Atmosphere

The co-main featured Khalil Coe stopping Jesse Hart in a light heavyweight clash, adding fireworks to the card. Other notables included a quick KO by prospect Emiliano Vargas. Fan hype was palpable, with Vegas fight-week events like public workouts drawing crowds amid the city’s glitz. DAZN reported strong streaming numbers, estimated at over 500,000 views globally, underscoring the card’s appeal in a stacked lightweight era.

What’s Next?

For Muratalla: A unification bout against WBA champ Gervonta Davis or a showdown with Shakur Stevenson seems likely, as he called out “the biggest fights.” For Cruz: A rebound against a ranked contender like William Zepeda or a rematch push, building experience toward another title shot.

In a razor-close battle on January 24, 2026, Raymond Muratalla’s heart and pressure overcame Andy Cruz’s finesse, retaining the IBF lightweight title via majority decision. Muratalla’s late-round dominance solidified his champ status, while Cruz’s valiant effort hints at future glory. This fight reshapes the division, promising more fireworks ahead for boxing fans.