Andy Cruz TKO5 Hironori Mishiro... Cuba's Andy Cruz displayed footwork, diverse shot selection, speed and power that were too much for Hironori Mishiro to handle Saturday night. After dropping the Japanese fighter twice during the third round, Cruz poured it on in the fifth to force the referee to stop the action for a technical knockout win at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. With the victory, Cruz becomes the mandatory challenger to newly minted IBF lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla. Cruz is listed as 6-0, but Boxingtalk recognizes his record as 22-0 due to paid bouts in the World Series of Boxing. Mishiro returns to Japan with a record of 17-2-1.

 

"I was born for these moments," Cruz boasted after the sensational victory, while also calling out Keyshawn Davis for a fight in the near future.

 

There was not any doubt Cruz would have his hand raised Saturday night after witnessing the fight's early moments. After seemingly splitting Mishiro's guard at will with the jab during the second round, Cruz found a permanent home with his right hand during a pivotal third round where he doubled up with the shot across the jaw to drop the Japanese fighter in a heap. Cruz continued to take advantage of Mishiro's lack of head movement by dropping him again moments later right before the end of the third — and that knockdown came courtesy of a right hand as well. The referee could have stopped it right there but allowed the gritty Mishiro to continue and Cruz overwhelmed him in the fifth for the statement victory.