Muratalla Retains IBF Lightweight Crown With Majority Decision Over Cruz

Muratalla Retains IBF Lightweight Crown With Majority Decision Over Cruz

Southern California’s Raymond Muratalla demonstrated his pro experience was superior to Cuba’s Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz and retained the IBF lightweight world title by majority decision on Saturday in Las Vegas.

“I’m a champion at the end of the day. I came and did what I had to do and I got the win,” said Muratalla of Fontana, Calif.

Muratalla (24-0, 17 KOs) and Cruz (6-1, 3 KOs) electrified the crowd at Fontainebleau Las Vegas and those watching around the world with their technical prowess and tactics over 12 rounds.

“I didn’t care what his background was to me. That didn’t matter to me,” said Muratalla about Cruz’s Olympic gold experience.

Before the fight Cruz was a huge favorite but by fight time the odds were almost even. The actual contest proved that both were almost equal in speed, and counter punching. But it was Muratalla’s experience in actual pro fighting that gave him a slight advantage.

While Cruz landed with jabs and counters, Muratalla met him with blasts to the body and head while constantly keeping the pressure on the fleet moving Cuban.

Cruz opened the fight with slick movements to attempt to confuse and keep the champion Muratalla off-balance. Accurate shot jabs fired through Muratalla’s guard who countered with a three-punch combo to the body. It set the tone for the fight.

Muratalla opened the second round with increased pressure and shooting combinations to the body and head. It forced Cruz to stand still and guard the blows and set a template for the rest of the fight.

“I knew he wouldn’t be able to handle the pressure. The smart pressure. I was breaking him down round by round,” said Muratalla who trains at Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Moreno Valley, Ca. “He was trying to counter me, but I wasn’t allowing him to do that.”

Cruz always seemed comfortable and despite the pressure and speed of Muratalla’s punches, he never lost his poise. He countered with rights and an incredible double right cross that found the mark. Muratalla maintained his poise as well.

As the match ensued it was evident that Muratalla was keeping Cruz moving backward. That never looks good to judges and the Cuban fighter could not find an antidote.

Every time Cruz mounted a rally Muratalla would counter by targeting the body with thudding shots. That always seemed to correct the problem and kept the champion looking as the fighter in charge.

Appearances are always important.

Though each fighter connected with solid blows Muratalla seemed to have the heavier hands and that allowed judges to hear the blows. During the last two rounds Muratalla increased the pressure even more. The increased pressure may have surprised Cruz who was fighting 12 rounds for the first time. Cruz was forced to connect with single punches while Muratalla landed combos.

After 12 rounds one judge saw it even 114-114, and two others saw it 118-110, 116-112 for Muratalla.

“I proved today I’m a champion. I worked my (butt) off to be here,” Muratalla said.

Cruz was surprised by the defeat.

“I always said it wasn’t going to be an easy fight,” said Cruz. “There was a reason he was a world champion and he beat me.”

Other Bouts

Despite being out-punched, Khalil Coe (11-1-1, 8 KOs) won by majority decision over veteran Jesse Hart (31-4, 26 KOs) after 10 rounds in a light heavyweight fight. A draw was possible, but a win was absurd.

Coe was out-punched and out-busied by Philadelphia’s Hart, but somehow the judges scored in favor of the Matchroom Boxing fighter. The match was marred by constant clinches and fouls including a throwdown by Coe who was penalized and by Hart for holding.

After 10 rounds one judge scored it even 94-94, and two others saw it 99-95, 96-92. One added note was Coe missed the weight limit by more than seven pounds.

Former super welterweight champ Israil Madrimov (11-2-1, 7 KOs) finally returned to the win column after nearly two years by defeating Dominican fighter Luis Salazar (20-2, 7 KOs) after 10 solid rounds.

After suffering back-to-back losses to Terence Crawford and Virgil Ortiz Jr., Madrimov was able to use superior technique in winning almost every round against Salazar who showed a determined chin. Madrimov nearly finished Salazar in the last round but ran out of fuel.

Super prospect Omari Jones (5-0, 4 KOs) floored Jerome Baxter (7-1) in the opening round with a jolting jab but could not knock out the much smaller fighter from Pittsburgh in their super welter match. Jones had every advantage but after firing off volleys kept clinching instead of attacking. It’s a tactic used by fighters who cannot fight inside. After six rounds all three judges favored Jones 60-53.

Zaquin Moses (6-0) proved it must be in the bloodline as the cousin of Shakur Stevenson breezed by Argentina’s Leandro Medina (7-3-1) to win by unanimous decision in a super featherweight fight. The southpaw Moses scored a knockdown in the third but could not finish Medina.

“He just had a hard head. I was pretty much hurting my hands. He was hurt but he was still dangerous,” said Moses. “I’m still learning.”