Andy Cruz erased the sting of the first loss of his professional career with an emphatic performance on Saturday night, stopping replacement opponent Abraham Montoya in the third round to capture the vacant WBC USA Silver lightweight title at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
After controlling the action from the opening bell, Cruz seized complete command late in the second round when he blasted Montoya with a hard right hand to the head that sent the Mexican veteran crashing to the canvas. Montoya beat the count but looked badly hurt as the bell sounded moments later, giving him a chance to return to his corner.
Cruz quickly closed the show at the start of the third, resuming his attack with accurate combinations that left Montoya unable to defend himself effectively. The referee stepped in to halt the scheduled 10-round bout, awarding Cruz a TKO victory. Reports afterward indicated Montoya suffered a broken jaw during the one-sided contest.
The win was an important rebound for the two-time Olympic gold medalist, who entered the fight following a majority decision defeat to Raymond Muratalla in January in his first attempt to win the IBF lightweight title. Rather than allowing that setback to derail his momentum, Cruz delivered the type of dominant performance expected from one of boxing’s most accomplished amateur talents.
The victory also strengthens the case for Cruz’s expected move to the 130-pound division. If he follows through with those plans, Saturday’s performance served as an ideal farewell to lightweight and a reminder that he remains one of the more skilled fighters in the lower weight classes despite the setback earlier this year.
Originally scheduled to face Albert Bell in an IBF lightweight title eliminator, Cruz instead met Montoya after Bell withdrew to accept another fight on short notice. Montoya (24-8-1, 14 KOs) accepted the opportunity on late notice and entered with a reputation for durability, having never previously been stopped. Cruz (7-1, 4 KOs), however, proved too fast and too accurate, breaking the veteran down to earn his first stoppage victory since 2024.
Click here to subscribe to our FREE newsletter
Related Boxing News:
Last Updated on 2026/07/18 at 10:44 PM
Read the full article here