Cuban Olympic gold medallist Andy Cruz will collide with Japan’s Hironori Mishiro in a 12-round IBF lightweight title eliminator on 14 June at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, chief support to Richardson Hitchins-George Kambosos on DAZN. The winner becomes mandatory to the Lomachenko–Muratalla champion, with a deadline already looming for that unification, making Cruz-Mishiro the fast lane to a world-title shot.
Cruz, 29, has raced to 5-0 (2 KOs) since turning pro in July 2023 and is ranked No. 3 by the IBF. Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn admitted “no one’s going to fight him” without a mandate, so the slick stylist accepted an eliminator instead. Mishiro, 30, enters 17-1-1 (6 KOs) on a five-fight win streak, including a December stoppage of Hinata Maruta, and sits at No. 5 in the same rankings.
Styles promise intrigue: Cruz’s pinpoint counters versus Mishiro’s rangy switch-hitting and high work-rate. Victory would place either man in the pole position should Vasiliy Lomachenko vacate or fail to defend by October 8, while a triumph over Mishiro would strengthen Cruz’s growing call for a future clash with Keyshawn Davis, the rival he beat for Olympic gold.
Image Credit: The Ring