Real Madrid is always in the spotlight. Millions of fans follow the club around the world, including some famous sportsmen and women with great media weight in the sporting universe, such as Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, Joel Embiid, Carlos Sainz, Luka Doncic and Ilia Topuria
The illustrious UFC fighter recently joked about a potential challenge against German Antonio Rudiger, who suggested that he could beat him along with three other Real Madrid teammates. “Even if they beat me, I would go for Rudiger first, he won’t get out alive, I’m telling you,” said Topuria, who heard about the German’s comments in a conversation with Dani Carvajal, the Merengues captain
And on the same rope is Andy Cruz, one of the rising stars of the lightweight division in professional boxing. The Cuban, who a few weeks ago knocked out Japan’s Hironori Mishiro and is on the verge of a virtual showdown with Raymond Muratalla for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) world crown vacated by Vasily Lomachenko, wants to cross fists with the German
In a round of questions from DAZN linking boxing and Real Madrid, “El Diamante” said he would love to go toe-to-toe in the ring with the “crazy” Rudiger. “My friends have told me that we look alike, so I would like to have a sparring session with him,” said Cruz, a recognized fan of Real Madrid
“If I had to go out and fight wearing a Madrid player’s shirt, it would be Vinicius’s”
In the conversation, the Cuban acknowledged that if he had to define Los Blancos as a boxer, he would have the style of Muhammad Ali, a strong proof of the high regard he has for the Madrid team
Andy Cruz did not hesitate to select two other Real Madrid players for his challenges in the ring. “If I had to train a Real Madrid player to be a boxer, I would choose captain Federico Valverde, and if I had to go out and fight with the shirt of a Real Madrid player it would be with Vinicius,” concluded the Caribbean fighter
Cristiano, Andy Cruz’s role model
Andy Cruz’s passion for Real Madrid is not recent. The Cuban boxer has been a confessed fan of Los Blancos for many years, especially Cristiano Ronaldo. “He is my idol, he has always inspired me, because despite the difficulties, through preparation and effort, he has achieved everything,” the pugilist acknowledged in another interview with DAZN
The example of the legendary Portuguese striker has been Cruz’s reference in the sporting world, although not the only one. “Now I also look at Bellingham, I can’t believe how old he is, he shows a lot of maturity both on and off the field,” he said
Andy, Olympic champion at Tokyo 2020 and three-time amateur world champion defending the colors of the Cuban national team, left his country in June 2022 to start his professional career. Since then he has been unbeaten and several specialists place him as one of the strongest candidates to dominate the lightweight division along with Gervonta Davis, Shakur Stevenson, William Zepeda or Raymond Muratalla
Beyond his dreams of being crowned with a world belt in the professional ring, the Caribbean’s other great aspiration also has to do with Real Madrid: “In addition to all the titles I want to win as a boxer, my other dream is to see a Madrid match at the Bernabeu, if it’s a Champions League match even better.”
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