It was a usual boxing match day, with the same setup, you know, bright lights, a full stadium with fans and supporters, gloves on, and before they knew it, Andy Cruz just quickly switched, and it was an exciting watch. This name spoke volumes because he quietly stood at the corner of the ring, ready to blast off at his opponent. Andy Cruz is one of those fighters who knows what they want in life. Besides the pride that boxers carry, there is always that one thing that gives them the ick to just push, fight, and leave a memorable legacy; this fight proved just that.
Andy Cruz’s skill has made a name for him, and the night was meant for him
So, here is the thing about Andy: he does not need publicity or the media to push his name. His skill work, footwork, and punches have already done that; he has gained recognition because of his elite boxing moves. Spectators were excited to see if the gold medallist from the Olympics could succeed in the professional game. Few, however, anticipated the response to be so prompt.
Every boxer has that one night, a night that seems to have been ordained for him only. A night where everything just falls into place, and they just manage to fight a clean battle and obtain what is due to them. Andy Cruz, this was his night. He was fighting an opponent who also had a strong reputation; however, this one was meant for him. It took five rounds, and everything was different.
Cruz’s transition from amateur to professional stardom gains momentum
The good part is that Any Cruz has a Cuban background in boxing. That exposure has helped him get on top of the boxing radar through hard work, training, learning, and coaching, of course. Additionally, he has focused so much on things like
- Planning ahead of the game and studying his opponent.
- Poise, timing, and patience have been an art in his demonstrations.
- Keeping his strong foundation unshakeable.
It so happened that Andy Cruz’s fifth-round stoppage guaranteed him a crack at the lightweight crown. Let us get this real and correct; his opponent, Hironori Mishiro, was not an easy boxer to fight, like I said, he is also a big deal of some sort. If you watch the game, both men were prepared for each other; however, Andy did all he could to block Mishiro from pulling him down.
Highlights of the night were interesting, and Andy made sure to deliver
It happened that the match started off quite still and calmly. This is a pattern I have noticed boxers use during their matches. Basically, the goal is to study your opponent and identify their strengths and weaknesses. Back to the game. In round four, Andy Cruz made sure to use more than 60% of his power to land a punch; he had to show his son how it is done. Round 1, Mishiro was only able to deliver 10 punches and nothing after that. The stoppage came at 2:41 in Round 5.
The fun and exciting part is done, and Andy Cruz’s fans are happy that he just delivered a good fight; he has won and obtained the lightweight belt, but it does not really end well because, according to some boxing rules, the IBF did not fully and legally declare him a winner. The current champion, Raymond Muratalla, may choose a different path. This means that Andy will have to wait just a little longer or fight another opponent to get a championship. After all that hard work, there is still another thing. By the way, Raymond Muratalla became the new IBF Lightweight Champion after Loma’s retirement.
