In the amateur ranks, Andy Cruz garnered the sort of fame and adulation that few are ever afforded. With a record consisting of 140 wins against just 9 defeats, Cruz capped off his time in the amateurs as an Olympic gold medalist, defeating Keyshawn Davis in the final round of the 2020 games.
Although his name was buzzing, thanks to the roadblocks that remained in place of his ability to turn pro, Cruz struggled to make it stateside. Ultimately, after several failed attempts to leave his native land of Cuba, the 27-year-old successfully made the trek before inking a promotional agreement with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.
Moving forward, Cruz will compete in the stacked lightweight division. By and large, the top of the 135-pound weight class is occupied by the likes of Shakur Stevenson, Gervonta “Tank” Davis, and undisputed kingpin Devin Haney. Yet, despite spewing profuse praise on those aforementioned fighters over the years, Stevenson in particular, and regardless of Cruz having zero years of pro experience, Hearn reveals that he would have no issue throwing Cruz directly into the line of fire.
“Honestly, I would put him in any fight at 135 pounds and believe we can win that fight,” said Hearn to Boxing News during an interview. “You always hear me ranting and raving about Shakur, he’s of that level. Honestly like, I would put him in with Tank now.”
Swift in the fashion he wishes to move his newly signed prizefighter, Hearn will look to somewhat ease him into life as a professional. At the moment, the longtime promoter doesn’t have an exact name that he would like to match Cruz up against. That doesn’t mean, however, that Hearn intends on handing him a soft touch for his pro debut which will take place this Summer.
“He’s gonna start at 10 rounds in July. This kid is an unbelievable fighter.”