Andy Cruz to become IBF champ

Promoter Eddie Hearn exhibited such faith in Andy Cruz's rapid advancement that he is essentially time stamping a championship coronation on Cruz for before the end of the year. During a press conference Thursday ahead of Saturday's IBF lightweight eliminator at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, Hearn stated that Cruz, the 2020 Olympic gold medalist, would take the title from just-elevated titleholder Raymond Muratalla "in his next two fights."

Nonetheless, Cruz must turn back Japan's impressive Hironori Mishiro in tonight's 12-round co-feature to Richardson Hitchins-George Kambosos Jr. Cruz is heavily favored, but a win will not only put him in a mandatory position with Muratalla, but make available a potentially enticing Matchroom-Top Rank showdown.

Hearn's schedule line sins straight through Muratalla's "I just became a full champion" honeymoon- the Californian was just upgraded to full champion after the retirement of Vasiliy Lomachenko. "Andy is very comfortable at 135," Hearn said, and reiterated his belief that Cruz's Olympic pedigree coupled with being as professional in only five fights makes Cruz boxing's most intriguing dark horse at 135.

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Keyshawn Davis was the matchmaking dream for Cruz, but Davis' inability to make weight and abrupt migration to 140 took not only the Davis hurdle out of Cruz's way, but the WBO belt as well. In place of Davis, a Muratalla-Cruz matchup becomes sharper spotlighted as potentially a boxing purist's delight of high-volume technician versus footworker fairy.

If Hearn's prophecy comes to fruition, Cruz could join the group of fellow Olympic champions that stormed to titles in single-digit fights, proving once again how elite pedigree can warp the path of boxing's learning curve. But first, there's Mishiro, an unassuming impediment Cruz cannot afford to dismiss if the two-fight plan is to remain on track.