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2020 Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz (4-0, 2 KOs) is one week away from taking on Mexican slugger Omar Salcid (20-1, 14 KOs) in a WBC lightweight title eliminator on Jan. 25, live on DAZN- in from The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Chelsea Ballroom, Las Vegas.
Cruz-Salcido will fight 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 undefeated light heavyweight Ernesto Mercado (16-0, 15 KOIs) taking on former two-division world champion Jose ‘Sniper’ Pedraza.
WBC title eliminator
If Andy Cruz defeats Salcido, the talented Cuban will be in position to challenge the WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson for his title this year. Shakur has bigger plans for this year. He hopes to defeat Floyd Schofield on February 22 and then defend against No. 1 William Zepeda if he fails to lure Vassily Lomachenko into the ring.
On top of that, a fight with Gervont Davis at the end of the year. It’s more likely that Shakur will have to settle for someone else, but probably not Cruz unless the World Boxing Council gives him a choice.
“my son”
Cruz would also like to face Keyshawn Davis if he can win the WBO lightweight title next month in his fight against champion Dennis Berinchik on February 14 at Madison Square Garden. Andy is very familiar with Keyshawn, whom he refers to as “my son” as he has fought him four times in the amateurs, defeating him each time in one-sided contests.
Cruz’s victory was so dominant in the 2020 Olympic finals that Keyshawn appeared to lose his mind, celebrating his defeat after the fight, seemingly obvious that he had lost the fight. Since Cruz turned pro in 2023, he has repeatedly called out Kishon, but to no avail.
The Norfolk, Virginia native doesn’t want to fight Cruz again, and it’s understandable why. He’s going to ruin his career, and he can’t afford to let that happen in the pros.
It’s a much different story when you lose in the professional game because it’s permanent and hard to come back unless someone like Turki Al-Sheikh takes an interest in you and wants to let you lose day and night and keep getting high paying opportunities.
“Yeah, this is a (WBC) must,” Andy Cruz told ISM Sports Media when asked if his fight against Omar Salcido is a WBC lightweight title eliminator on Jan. 25 to determine the next mandatory challenger for champion Shakur Stevenson.
“When that time comes, then I’ll take a different approach,” Cruz said of the Shakur fight. “It’s a division with a lot of talent. There are many fighters with talent. I’m just focused on myself.
💎 @Andidiamondcruz ready to shine again… @DAZNBocking #CruzSalcido | Jan 25 | #PachecoNelson pic.twitter.com/aD0UcmVhmk
— Matchroom Booking (@MatchroomBoking) January 17, 2025
