Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz IBF Fontainebleau Las Vegas DAZN Preview
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Robert Brizel (2025-2026) Prediction Record: (43-10-4)
Las Vegas, NV (January 21st, 2026)– Fontainebleau Las Vegas and DAZN will present an eight-bout card of live boxing on Saturday night, January 24, 2026, featuring the 12-round main event bout between IBF interim lightweight world champion Raymond Muratalla and Andy Cruz for the International Boxing Federation interim World Lightweight championship.
Cruz, 6-0 with three knockouts, Miami, Florida, by the way of Matanzas, Cuba, is favored to win the IBF title by 12-round decision over the defending champion Muratalla, 23-0 with 17 knockouts, Fontana, California. Muratalla has the experience edge, the Cuban has the amateur background pedigree. For Muratalla to win here, his ring generalship will have to be superior, and that is very possible.
Andy Cruz is the betting line favorite, with odds of -225 to -270 (meaning you bet $225-$270 to win $100), while Muratalla is the underdog at +185 to +200 (bet $100 to win $185-$200). Betting data favors Cruz to win, with a slight chance of an upset for Muratalla.
The bout result could be pivotal for the lightweight division, as it could lead to the winner being upgraded to a full IBF champion. With the WBA removal of WBA champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis from the active boxer ledger with a warrant out for his arrest, the winner of Muratalla versus Cruz could emerge as the top-ranked lightweight in the world on BoxRec as a result.
In the preliminary bout to the main event, two-time super middleweight world title Jesse Hart, 31-3 with 25 knockouts, is predicted to win by is predicted to win by 10 round unanimous decision over Khalil ‘Big Steppa’ Coe, 10-1-1 with eight knockouts, Jersey City, New Jersey. Hart, on a five-bout and five-year winning streak, age 36, has been inactive 21 months, and must beat Coe, age 29, if he is to make a final run for a title. The WBC USA175-pound light heavyweight regional title held by Coe is at stake.
Two-time junior middleweight world title challenger, Israil Madrimov, 10-2-1 with seven knockouts, Indio, California, by way of Uzbekistan, is predicted to win by knockout over Luis David Salazar, 20-1 with seven knockouts, of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in a 10-round crossroads middleweight bout. First bout for both junior middleweights at the higher 160-pound middleweight weight limit.
Harley Mederos, 9-0 with eight knockouts, Brooklyn, New York,k is predicted to win by stoppage over Renny Viamonte Mastrapa, 4-3-1 with two knockouts, Las Vegas, Nevada, by way of Cuba. The Cuban Masrapa will be thrown in with his seventh consecutive unbeaten fighter. Mederos is a center of the ring brawler who takes target practice. Mastrapa cannot recover from hissecond-roundd knockout loss to Pedro Da Silva Conceicao of Brazil at Caribe Royal Orlando in August 2025.
Super welterweight prospect Omari ‘Banger’ Jones, 4-0 with four knockouts, Orlando, Florida, is predicted to win by six rounds unanimous decision over Jerome ‘Thoroughbred’ Baxter, 7-0 with three knockouts, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Super middleweight Ronny Alvarez, 5-0 with four knockouts, Providence, Rhode Island, by way of Cuba, is predicted to win by six rounds unanimous decision over Braulio ‘Matador’ Ferreira Cartro, 7-2 with two knockouts, Colon, Uruguay.
Southpaw lightweight Kaipo Gallegos, 10-0-1 with eight knockouts, Las Vegas, Nevada, is predicted to win by six rounds unanimous decision over Wilson Akinocho, 3-0, a Texan from Angola. Gallegos has theexperience edgee here.
Southpaw super featherweight Zaquin Moses, 5-0 with three knockouts, Newark, New Jersey, will open the card, and is predicted to win by stoppage over Leandro Damian Medina, 7-2-1 with four knockouts, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.
Doors open 3pm PT – First Bell 3.50pm PT – Non-televised/stream prelim bouts
Weights:
6 x 3 mins Super-Middleweight contest
RONNY ALVAREZ (168.2lbs) vs. BRAULIO MATIAS (168lbs)
Ciego de Avila, Cuba Colonia, Uruguay
Followed by
6 x 3 mins Super-Lightweight contest
KAIPO GALLEGOS (138.8lbs) vs. WILSON AKINOCHO (138.4lbs)
Las Vegas, Nevada Luanda, Angola
LIVE ON DAZN FROM 5PM PT
6 x 3 mins Lightweight contest
ZAQUIN MOSES (132.8lbs) vs. LEANDRO MEDINA (134.2lbs)
Newark, New Jersey Santa Fe, Argentina
Followed by
6 x 3 mins Super-Welterweight contest
OMARI JONES (151lbs) vs. JEROME BAXTER (149.6lbs)
Orlando, Florida Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Followed by
10 x 3 mins Super-Welterweight contest
ISRAIL MADRIMOV (156.4lbs) vs. LUIS DAVID SALAZAR (157.8lbs)
Khiva, Uzbekistan Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Followed by
10 x 3 mins WBC US Light-Heavyweight title
KHALIL COE (182.8lbs)* vs. JESSE HART (174.6lbs)
Jersey City, New Jersey Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
*Coe missed the weight, title only on the line for Hart
Followed by
12 x 3 mins IBF World Lightweight title
RAYMOND MURATALLA (134.6lbs) vs. ANDY CRUZ (134.4lbs)
West Covina, California Matanzas, Cuba
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