If you ask Matchroom Boxing head Eddie Hearn, the matchup between IBF lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla and Andy Cruz might as well be decided by a coin flip.

Despite the uncertain odds, Hearn is bullish about the bout, scoring the winning bid of $888,888 on behalf of Cruz (6-0, 3 KOs), the mandatory challenger, to challenge Muratalla (23-0, 17 KOs).

The fight is set to take place on January 24 at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas.

“Listen, it ain't an easy fight for Andy Cruz,” Hearn told The Ring. “Muratalla is an excellent fighter. That is a very, very tough fight. It's a 50-50 fight. But we're looking forward to that fight. We are coming out in 2026 red hot, and this is a fight that I wanted to bring very early for DAZN.”

Murtalla, a 28-year-old from Southern California, scored the IBF interim title in May when he beat Zaur Abdullaev via unanimous decision. Murtalla was elevated as the full champion after Vasiliy Lomachenko retired.

"I’m excited to make my first title defense against a worthy contender in Andy Cruz,” said Muratalla. “I know the fans are excited for this fight, and I’m coming to Las Vegas to prove I’m the class of the lightweight division … This is what boxing needs – more great fights – and I’m happy to be a part of it."

Cruz, a 30-year-old two-time Olympic gold medalist for Cuba, emerged as Muratalla’s mandatory challenger after he stopped Hironori Mishiro inside five rounds in June.

“This is the moment I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid,” said Cruz. “Raymond Muratalla is a great fighter, but I believe I’m on another level. I’ve sacrificed everything to get here, and that’s why I came to the United States to make history in the best boxing in the world. On fight night, the world will see the real Andy Cruz, and why I’m ready to become a world champion.”