Andy Cruz secured a dominant third-round TKO victory over Abraham Montoya to win the vacant WBC USA Silver lightweight title. The win marks a significant rebound for the Cuban boxer following the first professional defeat of his career earlier this year.
From the start, Cruz controlled the contest with superior footwork and a commanding jab. He consistently landed clean, powerful combinations that neutralised Montoya, who had taken the fight on short notice. The pressure culminated late in the second round when Cruz dropped Montoya with a hard right hand. Although Montoya answered the count, the round ended before any further action. The damage was significant, with reports indicating Montoya sustained a broken jaw during the bout. The referee intervened in the third round as Montoya could no longer effectively defend himself, awarding Cruz the victory and moving his record to 7-1 (4 KOs).
This performance was a necessary response to his majority-decision loss to Raymond Muratalla in January. That defeat stalled his initial momentum in the professional ranks after a decorated amateur career that included two Olympic gold medals. By stopping Montoya, a durable veteran who had never previously been stopped, Cruz re-established his credentials as one of the most skilled operators in the lower weight classes.
The victory also provides a strong platform for his next career move. There is an expectation that Cruz will now move down to the 130-pound super-featherweight division. If he proceeds with that plan, this decisive win serves as a powerful final statement at lightweight and a clear signal of his capabilities to future opponents in a new weight class.
