Andy Cruz will enjoy a quick ring return, even in the midst of an active lawsuit.
BoxingScene.com has confirmed that the 2020 Olympic Gold medalist and fast-rising lightweight will land on the February 24 DAZN show at Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. Cruz will face Mexico’s Brayan Zamarripa in a scheduled ten-round contest.
“The Diamond continues the climb towards World Honors against tough Mexican southpaw Brayan Zamapirra,” Matchroom Boxing confirmed Friday evening.
Cruz-Zamarripa will serve as the chief support to the already announced Edgar Berlanga-Padraig McCrory super middleweight headliner.
The news comes less than 24 hours after it was revelaed that Cruz (2-0, 1KO)—a Cuban standout based in Miami—filed an eight-count complaint against estranged co-promoter New Champion Promotions, LLC. Matchroom Boxing was also named as a defendant, though only due to its role as Cruz’s lead promoter and who is not accused of any impropriety in the case.
Cruz turned pro on July 15 with a ten-round, unanimous decision win over former title challenger Juan Carlos Burgos in Detroit, Michigan. His first career knockout came in his most recent outing, a spectacular third-round stoppage of veteran spoiler Jovanni Straffon on the December 9 Devin Haney-Regis Prograis DAZN Pay-Per-View undercard from Chase Center in San Francisco, California.
The fast track continues for Cruz, who outpointed Keyshawn Davis in the Gold medal round of the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics who signed with Matchroom in May. The confirmed bout versus Zamarripa will mark his first bout in his adopted home state of Florida.
Zamarripa (14-2, 5KOs) has never been dropped or stopped through 16 pro bouts. The 26-year-old southpaw from Baja California, Mexico showed a sturdy chin in a narrow split decision defeat to heavy-handed countryman Angel Fierro on September 15 in Tijuana. The heartbreaking loss snapped a ten-fight win streak. He has since rebounded with a confidence-restoring eighth-round knockout on December 16 in his Ensenada hometown.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. X (formerly Twitter): @JakeNDaBox