As far as weekends go, promoter Eddie Hearn will do well to have a better one throughout the rest of 2023.
His golden goose Canelo Alvarez was victorious in front of a sold out Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, in a spectacle the likes of which boxing fans are seldom treated to.
Matchroom also announced two of their biggest signings in recent years on that bill, light welterweight world champion Regis Prograis and Cuban amateur kingpin Andy Cruz.
Speaking to Boxing Social about Cruz, Hearn described the 27 year old as ‘special’ before going on to say he’d pick him over the likes of Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney – on his professional debut.
“This may be our greatest ever signing. In over thirty years of watching boxing, he’s one of the most special fighters I have ever seen.”
“Won gold at the Olympics, three time world amateur champion. As much as I rate Shakur Stevenson, Devin Haney and all those guys, I wouldn’t even back against Andy Cruz beating them now.”
Cruz accumulated a jaw dropping record of 140-9 in the unpaid ranks, and is widely regarded as one of the best amateur fighters of all time.
However, he has some ways to go to building the commercial profile to land a fight with either Stevenson or Haney, especially given he has signed terms with a rival promoter to the pair.
The two young Americans look to be on a crash course for a fight later in the year, provided Haney manages to keep hold of his undisputed lightweight world title against Vasiliy Lomachenko in just under two weeks time.
