Cruz (6-1, 3 KOs) will face Abraham Montoya (24-7-1, 14 KOs) on July 18 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, on the Matchroom Boxing card headlined by the super middleweight scrap between Diego Pacheco and Immanuwel Aleem.

The matchup against Montoya is a letdown for Cruz, who was preparing for an IBF lightweight title eliminator against Albert Bell over the last few months.

Matchroom secured a $298,000 purse bid in May to stage the bout, but Eddie Hearn and company had to mitigate a crisis when Joe Cordina, a fighter they promote, was unable to secure a visa to challenge WBO lightweight champion Abdullah Mason on Saturday in Ohio. Instead, Bell was summoned for the scrap, which he ultimately lost by a 12-round stoppage. Cruz was left on the outside looking in.

Cruz, a 30-year Olympic gold medal winner from Cuba and The Ring’s No. 4-rated 135-pounder, is coming off a majority decision defeat in his first title shot against IBF champion Raymond Muratalla in January.

Montoya has a record of 6-6 since 2019 but is riding the momentum of scoring a split decision win against previously unbeaten Antonio Perez last time out in April.

The 31-year-old Mexican also has a split decision win against Joseph Diaz Jr. in November 2024 and has lost to the likes of Tsendbaatar Erdenebat, Marc Castro, Andres Cortes and Gabriel Flores Jr. Montoya has never suffered a stoppage loss in his career.