Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallist Andy “Diamante” Cruz returns to the ring with his professional reputation on the line. The Cuban master technician suffered the first defeat of his professional career in January 2026 — a majority decision loss to Raymond Muratalla that upended his world title timeline — and now faces the durable, battle-hardened Abraham “Fily” Montoya (24-7-1, 14 KOs) over 10 rounds at lightweight in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 18, live on DAZN.
This was originally a higher-profile assignment: Cruz was set to face Albert Bell in an IBF world title eliminator. Bell withdrew, and Montoya stepped in — but make no mistake, the danger level hasn’t dropped. Montoya is the current WBC USA Silver lightweight champion, has never been stopped in 32 professional fights, and arrives in peak form after arguably the best win of his career. For Cruz, Saturday is about proving that the Olympic pedigree translates — even after a setback.
| Date | Saturday, July 18, 2026 |
| Venue | Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California |
| Division | Lightweight (135 lbs) |
| Rounds | 10 |
| Promotion | Matchroom Boxing |
| Broadcast | DAZN (US) / DAZN Global (UK) |
Andy Cruz is, by any measure, one of the most decorated fighters to turn professional in recent boxing history. A three-time AIBA World Amateur Champion and 2020 Tokyo Olympic gold medallist at the 64kg light welterweight division, Cruz brought a ring IQ that borders on supernatural into the pro ranks. At 5’6” with a 66.1-inch reach, he isn’t physically imposing, but his footwork, angles, and defensive subtlety were virtually impossible to crack at amateur level — and they carried over.
His professional progression was steady: four wins in 2024, two more in 2025, all built on his trademark counter-punching and timing. Then came Muratalla. The IBF world title eliminator in January 2026 exposed the transition challenges Cruz still faces: Muratalla’s relentless pressure, physical strength in the clinch, and ability to nullify Cruz’s footwork were problems he couldn’t solve across 12 rounds. He lost on majority decision. It was a reality check, not a disaster — Muratalla is a legitimate world title contender. But it reset the clock.
Cruz is currently ranked #4 by both the WBC and IBF. He’s reportedly planning to move down to super featherweight (130 lbs) after this fight, making Saturday his likely final appearance at lightweight. He’ll want to go out with a statement.
| Stat | Andy Cruz |
|---|---|
| Record | 6-1 |
| KOs | 3 |
| Height | 5’6” / 168 cm |
| Reach | 66.1” / 168 cm |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Nickname | Diamante |
| Age | 29 |
| Amateur | Tokyo 2020 Olympic Gold |
Abraham Montoya from Mexicali, Mexico, is the kind of fighter who is always underestimated and almost never outworked. With a record of 24-7-1 and 14 knockouts, his numbers don’t scream elite — but the name on his recent résumé tell a different story, and his durability is elite-level by any standard. In 32 professional fights, “Fily” has never once been stopped.
His most recent win is his best: a split decision over the previously unbeaten Antonio Perez in April 2026 to claim the vacant WBC USA Silver lightweight title. Before that, he went 10 rounds with former world title challenger Joseph Diaz in November 2024, winning on a split decision that proved he belongs in the elite conversation. His résumé also includes competitive fights with Tsendbaatar Erdenebat and Gabriel Flores Jr — fighters with real pedigree.
At 31 years old, 5’6” with a 68-inch reach, Montoya is a physical match for Cruz. That parity matters enormously — Cruz can’t simply outbox him at range the way he might a smaller opponent. Montoya will be relentless, come forward, and put a physical test on Cruz from round one.
| Stat | Abraham Montoya |
|---|---|
| Record | 24-7-1 |
| KOs | 14 |
| Height | 5’6” |
| Reach | 68” |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Nickname | Fily |
| Age | 31 |
| Title | WBC USA Silver Lightweight |
| Andy Cruz | Abraham Montoya | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 6-1 | 24-7-1 |
| KOs | 3 | 14 |
| Height | 5’6” / 168 cm | 5’6” |
| Reach | 66.1” | 68” |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Age | 29 | 31 |
Andy Cruz — Last 5 Fights
| Result | Opponent | Method | Rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| L | Raymond Muratalla | MD | 12 |
| W | Hironori Mishiro | TKO | 5 |
| W | Salcido | UD | 10 |
| W | Antonio Moran | KO | 7 |
| W | Zamarripa | UD | 10 |
Abraham Montoya — Last 4 Fights
| Result | Opponent | Method | Rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| W | Antonio Perez | SD | 10 |
| L | Tsendbaatar Erdenebat | UD | 10 |
| W | Joseph Diaz | SD | 10 |
| L | Gabriel Flores Jr. | MD | 10 |
Both fighters stand at 5’6” in orthodox stances — making this a fascinating test of ring craft versus relentless hunger. Cruz’s entire professional identity is built on timing and angles accumulated over a decade of elite amateur competition. His footwork creates openings that look effortless: jab, slide, counter — repeated with a precision that made him the best amateur in the world.
But the Muratalla defeat revealed that when someone takes those tools away through relentless pressure and physical imposing themselves in clinches, Cruz can be neutralised. Montoya has those exact qualities in abundance. He’s a pressure fighter who doesn’t care how slick you are; he’s coming forward, working the body, and grinding for all 10 rounds. His 68-inch reach — 2 inches longer than Cruz’s — also means he’s not at a disadvantage at range.
The critical question is adaptation. Cruz’s two stoppage wins — Moran in round seven and Mishiro in round five — showed he can end a fight when his timing is clicking. The bigger question is whether his ring craft has evolved to handle persistent pressure better than it did against Muratalla. His game is built for a chess match. Montoya is trying to flip the board.
Andy Cruz:
Abraham Montoya:
Cruz is expected to enter as a notable favourite given his ranking, pedigree, and the late-replacement nature of the matchup. The Muratalla loss puts a question mark on him, but the more accurate reading of that fight is that Muratalla was specifically the right style — at the right time — to expose Cruz’s amateur-to-pro transition challenges.
Montoya is a different kind of opponent. He’s more experienced but less physically dominant than Muratalla, and his recent form — while impressive — doesn’t suggest he has the tools to fully neutralise Cruz the same way. If Cruz’s footwork and timing are operational, his ring IQ should be the decisive factor over 10 rounds.
Prediction: Andy Cruz wins by unanimous decision.
| Region | Broadcaster | Start Time |
|---|---|---|
| United States | DAZN | 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET |
| United Kingdom | DAZN Global | 1:00 AM BST (Sun, July 19) |
This is part of a stacked card headlined by Diego Pacheco defending his WBC Silver crown against Immanuwel Aleem — read our full Pacheco vs Aleem main event preview here. Also on the card, unbeaten featherweight Albert Gonzalez faces the experienced Aaron Alameda — see our Gonzalez vs Alameda preview here.
When is Cruz vs Montoya? Saturday, July 18, 2026, on the undercard of Pacheco vs Aleem at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
How can I watch Cruz vs Montoya? Live on DAZN in the United States and on DAZN Global in the United Kingdom.
Who is Andy Cruz? Andy Cruz is a Cuban professional boxer, 2020 Tokyo Olympic gold medallist, and three-time AIBA World Amateur Champion. He is ranked #4 by the WBC and IBF at lightweight and holds a professional record of 6-1 with 3 KOs.
Has Andy Cruz ever lost professionally? Yes — Cruz suffered his first professional defeat in January 2026, losing a majority decision to Raymond Muratalla in an IBF lightweight title eliminator.
What is Abraham Montoya’s record? Montoya is 24-7-1 with 14 KOs. He has never been stopped in 32 professional fights and holds the WBC USA Silver lightweight title.
Why is Montoya fighting Cruz? Montoya stepped in as a replacement for Albert Bell, who was originally scheduled to fight Cruz in an IBF world title eliminator. Montoya is no easy replacement — he’s the reigning WBC USA Silver lightweight champion.
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