Albert Bell and Andy Cruz have agreed to terms for an IBF lightweight title eliminator, with the bout targeted for June or July on a Matchroom Boxing card.
The winner of the fight will become the mandatory challenger for current IBF champion Raymond Muratalla, who is expected to take a voluntary defense next.
Cruz enters the eliminator looking to rebound from his January loss to Muratalla, where he dropped a clear decision in Las Vegas. The 2020 Olympic gold medalist had previously secured his mandatory position with a knockout win over Hinorori Mishiro.
Bell, meanwhile, has struggled to secure high-level opportunities despite his unbeaten record. After moving up from 130lbs in search of bigger fights, he now finds himself one win away from a title shot.
The IBF had initially explored other options for the eliminator, including Canada’s Lucas Bahdi, but those discussions did not materialize, leaving Bell and Cruz to finalize the matchup.
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