But the reigning, undefeated IBF lightweight world champion couldn’t care less. The 29-year-old is too laser-focused to be concerned with any outside noise.

“I don’t really pay too much mind to that,” Muratalla tells DAZN News during a recent Zoom conference. “I’m locked in. I’m focused on one thing and that’s winning come fight night.”

That said, Muratalla is willing to take the blinders off for just a second to entertain Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn telling Ring Magazine that this weekend’s bout is a “50-50 fight.”

“That’s his guy,” Muratalla says of Cruz being Hearn’s charge. “But as far as I’m concerned, I don’t think it’s 50-50 at all. I feel like I’m levels ahead of him and I’m going to show that fight night.”

As much as Muratalla tries to relent feeding into chatter, he knows what lies ahead — a chance to make the biggest statement of his career.

Muratalla earned the IBF interim lightweight title last May when he outpointed Zaur Abdullaev via unanimous decision. The Fontana, California resident was later elevated to full championship status when then-IBF titleholder Vasiliy Lomachenko abruptly retired.

Just as Cruz (6-0, 3 KOs) wants to make the statement that he is ready to become a world champion in just his seventh professional fight, Muratalla (23-0, 17 KOs) is eyeing his biggest win yet at Cruz’ expense as a proving ground of sorts.

“Big fights is what I’ve always wanted and names,” he says “so this is definitely going to add to my resume.”

At 30, Cruz is an Olympic gold medalist with a decorated amateur pedigree in a similar vein to Lomachenko. From the Cuban school of boxing, Cruz presents a technically-sound but flashy package of skills that Muratalla insists he has the remedy to resolve.

“I think my power is definitely going to be the difference,” Muratalla offers without hesitation. “I’m fully prepared for whatever he brings and I think just with my skills, my mindset alone is just going to be enough to beat him.”

He adds: “I’m really here at the 135 and I’m beating guys at high levels. It doesn’t matter who they put in front of me. I’m here to win and take out the competition.”

Last May, Muratalla beat Abdullaev to the punch, doubling up on the jab and mixing in slick combinations to deliver a dominant unanimous decision in his only in-ring action of 2025.

Against a crafty Cruz who often dictates the pace and sets perilous traps against opponents, Muratalla will likely have to let his hands go, relying on his sweet science skills to box his way out of some quandaries, while downright scrapping out of others.

While many in boxing believe Cruz has the skills and temperament to become a world champion, it is up to Muratalla to shut those projections down with force this weekend.

He does that and it might give the American the splashy win he's craved to lift his star power in the sport.

“This is what boxing needs,” Muratalla says. “Both of us are going to be very well prepared. I think it’s going to be a good fight and I can’t wait to put on a show for everybody.

“Footwork, speed, power … I can’t wait to show what I’ve been working on and show how much improvement I’ve made since the last fight.”

The boxing world awaits.

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