On June 14 (June 15 Japan time), the semi-final of the Matchroom Boxing event was held at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, USA. The bout was an IBF World Lightweight Title Eliminator. In a clash between No. 3 ranked Andy Cruz of Cuba (5 wins, 2 KOs) — with the No. 1 and No. 2 spots vacant — and No. 5 ranked Hironori Mishiro of Yokohama Hikari Gym (17 wins, 6 KOs, 1 loss, 1 draw), Cruz secured a TKO victory at 1:13 of the 5th round.
Hironori Mishiro stepped confidently into the New York ring, starting the bout with a firm and composed stance. Andy Cruz quickly established his rhythm with sharp jabs, and as Mihara closed the distance, Cruz slipped a right uppercut through his guard with precision. In the second round, Cruz continued to pump out fast jabs. Mihara answered with his own and gradually closed the gap, but Cruz responded with quick, well-placed combinations to both the head and body.
In the third round, Cruz’s jabs remained lightning-fast. Even in close quarters, he smoothly mixed in left and right hooks along with uppercuts. Midway through the round, Cruz landed a clean right straight. As Mishiro staggered, Cruz instantly followed with a textbook one-two combination that sent Mishiro to the canvas. Mishiro rose and withstood Cruz’s aggressive follow-up, but just before the end of the round, another right straight from Cruz dropped him for the second time.
In the fourth round, Mihara pressed forward, throwing left and right hooks as he closed in on Cruz. However, Cruz moved laterally and fired quick combinations through the gaps in Mihara’s guard. He then landed a powerful right straight, which inflicted significant damage on Mihara.
At the start of the fifth round, the ringside doctor checked on Mihara. Determined to find a breakthrough, Mihara continued to move forward, but Cruz responded with sharp left and right hooks and uppercuts to both the head and body. When distance opened, Cruz landed precise right straights. His rapid one-two combinations and sharp, accurate flurries repeatedly caught Mihara.
Although Mihara bravely withstood a barrage of punches following Cruz’s right straight, referee Eric Dali (USA) stepped in and stopped the fight. Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz had proven himself to be both fast and powerful.
With the win, Cruz earned the right to challenge Raymond Muratalla (USA, 23 wins, 17 KOs), who was elevated to full IBF World Lightweight Champion status following the retirement of Vasyl Lomachenko (Ukraine).
Even a fighter as strong as Mishiro, arguably the best in Asia, couldn’t win the title eliminator — the wall of the world lightweight division is truly high.
Related Article： IBF World Lightweight Title Eliminator to be held in New York, USA.
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