CUBAN Andy Cruz, 6-0 (3 KOs), proved he is ready for a world title shot with a dominant five-round beatdown of Hironori Mishiro, 17-2-1 (6 KOs). The chief support to last night’s main event between Richardson Hitchins and George Kambosos Jr also served as an IBF lightweight title eliminator. The belt is currently held by Raymond Muratalla, who was elevated from interim to full champion following Vasyl Lomachenko’s recent retirement.
Mishiro entered the fight as a significant underdog against the 2020 Olympic lightweight champion, who was competing in only his sixth professional bout. From the opening bell, Cruz’s jab was like a cruise missile, consistently finding its target against Mishiro. The Japanese challenger carried himself with a stiff, tense posture, which, while characteristic of his style, made his 5ft 10½ inch frame an easy target.
Mishiro landed the occasional right hand to head and body, as Cruz, 29, trained in Philadelphia by Bozy Ennis, wasn’t afraid to mix it up, blending Cuban defensive finesse with Philly’s aggressive offence. Near the end of the second round, Cruz began to string his shots together with ease, a warning sign that should have raised alarm bells in Mishiro’s corner.
In the first minute of round three, Cruz showcased his ability to attack from range with a long right hand, allowing him to close the distance and unleash a barrage. Mishiro’s chin was exposed, his defence virtually non-existent. By turning his head to the right, he left himself even more vulnerable, and two jolting right hands sent him to the canvas with over half the round remaining.
Cruz continued to turn his opponent with punches, bloodying Mishiro’s lip in the process. Just before the bell, a whipping left and right hook combination floored Mishiro again, though he managed to return to his feet and stumble back to his corner, a beaten man.
Mishiro faced relentless pressure in the fourth. Cruz could do as he pleased, his hand speed lighting up Mishiro with punishing shots. Moving away from the ropes, Cruz fought confidently in the centre of the ring, proving himself a threat wherever his opponent chose to engage.
Before the fifth round began, the ringside physician examined Mishiro. Cleared to continue, Mishiro turned to the crowd, banging his gloves together, earning a round of applause for his resilience. However, Cruz’s shotgun jab resumed its dominance, snapping Mishiro’s head back with every clean shot. A blistering right hand from Cruz found its mark, followed by a flurry of unanswered punches that forced referee Eric Dali to step in and stop the fight with 1 minute 13 seconds remaining in round five, sparing Mishiro further punishment.
Speaking to DAZN’s Chris Mannix afterwards, Cruz paid tribute to his opponent:
“I didn’t know a great deal about him. The last few weeks I’ve been looking at bits of him, some tapes but I have to give him great respect he was a warrior in there and I really thank you but tonight was my night.”
“He did surprise me a great deal,” Cruz added. “He was a really strong fighter. He was a fighter that could withstand a lot of shots in there but I just continued with my fight plan and ended up getting the job done tonight.”
‘El Diamante’ couldn’t resist a jab at former WBO lightweight champion Keyshawn Davis. Cruz, who defeated the American in the 2020 Olympic final, has often referred to himself as Davis’s ‘father’, alluding to his multiple amateur victories over him. Cruz likely relished the recent drama surrounding Davis, who lost his world title on the scales before his fight against Edwin De Los Santos was cancelled, followed by a backstage brawl involving Davis, one of his brothers, and former opponent Nahir Albright.
Asked if he thought his next fight would be for a world title, Cruz replied: “I’ve always said I was born for these moments. I always said I wanted to go into these fights and I’m completely ready for this. Keyshawn, learn from your father.”
