Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom landed one of the greatest amateur’s in recent memory when Cuba’s Andy Cruz penned a long-term deal with the promotional company.
Cruz achieved gold medal success at Tokyo 2020, defeating highly-rated Keyshawn Davis in the final and stretching his record to 4-0 against the American, with three of those meetings coming in major amateur finals.
That Olympic glory added to Cruz’s three AIBA world championship golds and his two wins at the Pan American Games – all of which have contributed to a mammoth amateur record of 140-9.
Since announcing Cruz’s signature, Hearn has buzzed about the talent of his new man and claimed that he is already to challenge the lightweight division’s top players. He told IFL TV that could include a debut against undefeated professional and previous amateur rival Keyshawn Davis.
In response, Keyshawn Davis took to social media to announce that he would be more than happy to face his amateur nemesis in the professional ranks, and warned Hearn to stop using his name to help promote Cruz’s career.
I anit gone say nomoe. pic.twitter.com/bVTsXEYm8B
— Keyshawn Davis (@KeyshawnDavis8) May 10, 2023
“Tell lil’ bro, to turn his punches over. You are a pro now, OK? Those slaps are not going to get counted [as a] pro. Eddie Hearn, no more tweeting, stop tweeting my name. You are trying to keep building this man off of my name, this man ain’t touched American television, stop trying to build your man off my name. You want to fight me? Call my promoter!”
Shakur Stevenson had a similar reaction.
“He is bluffing, no way he believes in an amateur fighter that much. Professional boxing is way different c’mon now.”
He bluffing it’s no way he believe in a amateur fighter that much.. Professional boxing is way different cmon now 🤦🏾♂️ https://t.co/mWDWnrDzIx
— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) May 10, 2023
Who Cruz will fight on debut we do not know, but one thing is for sure, his signature has got all of the lightweights talking before he has even stepped into a professional ring.