2020 Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz (4-0, 2 KOs) is one week away from facing Mexican slugger Omar Salcido (20-1, 14 KOs) in a WBC lightweight title eliminator on January 25th, live on DAZN from The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Chelsea Ballroom, Las Vegas.
Cruz-Salcido will be fighting on the undercard of Diego Pacheco vs. Steve Nelson, and there’s a good chance they’ll steal the show. Also on the card is unbeaten light welterweight Ernesto Mercado (16-0, 15 KOIs) fighting former two-division world champion Jose ‘Sniper’ Pedraza.
WBC Title Eliminator
If Andy Cruz is victorious against Salcido, the talented Cuban will be in a position to challenge WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson for his title this year. Shakur has bigger plans for this year. He hopes to beat Floyd Schofield on February 22nd and then defend against #1 William Zepeda if he can’t lure Vasily Lomachenko into the ring.
To top it off, fighting Gervonta Davis at the end of the year. More likely, Shakur will have to settle for someone else, but probably not Cruz unless the World Boxing Council gives him no choice.
“My Son”
Cruz would also like to face Keyshawn Davis if he can capture the WBO lightweight title next month in his fight against champion Denys Berinchyk on February 14th at Madison Square Garden. Andy is well familiar with Keyshawn, who he refers to as “My son” for having him fought him four times in the amateurs, beating him each time in one-sided contests.
Cruz’s win was so dominating in the 2020 Olympic finals that Keyshawn seemed to lose his mind, celebrating his loss after the fight, seemingly obvious that he’d lost the fight. Since Cruz turned pro in 2023, he’s repeatedly called out Keyshawn, but with no luck.
The Norfolk, Virginia native wants no part of fighting Cruz again, and it’s understandable why. He’ll wreck his career, and he can’t afford to have that happen in the pros.
It’s a much different story when you lose in the pro game because it’s permanent and difficult to come back unless someone like Turki Al-Sheikh takes an interest in you and is willing to let you lose around the clock and keep getting opportunities for big paydays.
“Yes, this is for the [WBC] mandatory,” said Andy Cruz to YSM Sports Media when asked if his fight against Omar Salcido is a WBC lightweight title eliminator on January 25th to determine the next mandatory challenger for champion Shakur Stevenson.
“When that time comes, then I’ll approach it different,” said Cruz about fighting Shakur. “It’s a division with a lot of talent. There are a lot of fighters with talent. I’m just focused on myself.
💎 @Andydiamondcruz ready to shine once again… @DAZNBoxing #CruzSalcido | Jan 25 | #PachecoNelson pic.twitter.com/aD0UcmWhmq
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) January 17, 2025
Read the full article here
