Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn revealed over the past weekend that an IBF lightweight eliminator between two-time Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz and no. 5 Hironori Mishiro is “in play’ for their planned June 14th Richardson Hitchins vs George Kambosos Jr show. Carlos Linares adds that the two are in “advanced discussions.”
The title situation is a bit of a mess at the moment with thanks to the ambiguity surrounding reigning champion Vasiliy Lomachenko’s career; most expect him to retire after turning down a blockbuster unification with Gervonta “Tank” Davis, but he’s yet to commit to a course of action. Zaur Abdullaev will face Raymond Muratalla for the interim belt next month, with the winner of this one likely next in line.
That will almost certainly be Cruz (5-0, 2 KO), who’s yet to fully convert his magnificent amateur pedigree into an overwhelming pro game but remains among the best in the business. While Japan’s Mishiro (17-1-1, 6 KO) is the reigning Japanese champion and has a couple of solid domestic wins, he’s taking a gargantuan step up in class.
