Muratalla is not predicting an early finish. His view is that the work he brings over time matters more than anything that happens in the first few rounds. He expects the fight to stay demanding and for the rounds to take something out of the challenger.
Muratalla is focused on the second half of the fight. He believes the pace turns physical once the early rounds pass, and that Cruz has not yet shown he can carry that kind of fight over 12 rounds.
“So I think it’s gonna be too much for him and see me breaking him down in the later rounds,” Muratalla said. “There’s definitely a chance I can stop him. My power speaks for itself.”
Cruz has already been in a fight that hints at what Muratalla is describing. Last year, pressure fighter Omar Salcido took Cruz the full 10 rounds. Cruz won clearly, but the later rounds were not easy. He took clean shots and had to stay disciplined as the pace stayed high.
That fight drew more attention when Salcido returned and was beaten more comfortably by the shorter, stockier Isaac Cruz, who won a wide 10-round decision by staying on him throughout. It did not damage Andy Cruz’s standing, but it showed that steady pressure can make him work harder than expected.
That is the opening Muratalla believes he can use.
There are questions on Muratalla’s side as well. His 2024 fight with Tevin Farmer was uneven. Muratalla won a 10-round decision by coming on late, but he struggled early and gave away rounds. One judge had it 95-94, another 96-93, with the widest card at 97-92.
That fight showed Muratalla can finish strong. It also showed that he can take time to get going.
Saturday comes down to which pattern holds. Muratalla believes his pressure wears Cruz down late. Cruz believes he can stay in control long enough to prevent that from happening.
Muratalla is betting the second half decides it.
Fight info
- Fight: Raymond Muratalla vs Andy Cruz
- Location: Las Vegas
- Broadcast: DAZN
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