The winner of this meeting will take the first place in the ranking of the International Boxing Federation and will become the official challenger for the championship belt in the weight category up to 61 kilograms. Cruz is currently third in the rankings, while the Japanese is sixth.
The reigning IBF lightweight champion is Vasyl Lomachenko, who has not boxed since last May. Zaur Abdulaev and Raymond Muratalla will soon fight for the interim belt in this weight class.