2020 Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz (4-0, 2 KOs) is one week away from facing Mexican slugger Omar Salcedo (20-1, 14 KOs) for the WBC lightweight championship on January 25, live on DAZN from The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Chelsea Ballroom, Las Vegas.
Cruz Salcedo will compete 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 welterweight Ernesto Mercado (16-0, 15 KOIs) who fights former two-division world champion Jose “Sniper” Pedraza.
WBC Title Remover
If Andy Cruz defeats Salcedo, the talented Cuban will be in position to challenge the WBC lightweight champion. Shakur Stevenson To get his title this year. Shakur has bigger plans for this year. He hopes to beat Floyd Schofield on February 22 and then defend against No. 1 William Zepeda if he can't lure Vasiliy Lomachenko to the ring.
And on top of that, the Gervonta Davis fight at the end of the year. Most likely, Shakur will have to settle for someone else, but perhaps not Cruz unless the WBC gives him no other option.
“my son”
Cruz also wants to face Keshawn Davis if he can capture the WBO lightweight title next month in his fight against champion Denis Perinczyk on February 14 at Madison Square Garden. Andy is well acquainted with Keyshawn, whom he refers to as “my son” because he fought him four times in the amateurs, beating him each time in one-sided contests.
So dominant was Cruz's win in the 2020 Olympic finals that Keshawn appeared to be losing his mind, as he celebrated his loss after the fight, and it seemed clear he had lost the fight. Since turning pro in 2023, Cruz has called out Keyshawn repeatedly, with no luck.
The Norfolk, Virginia native wants no part of fighting Cruz again, and that's understandable. It would ruin his career, and he couldn't afford for that to happen in the pros.
It's a much different story when you lose in the professional game, because the comeback is permanent and it's difficult for you unless someone like Turki Al-Sheikh cares about you and is willing to let you. Check around the clock And keep getting opportunities for big paydays.
“Yes, this is for the (WBC) mandatory,” Andy Cruz told YSM Sports Media when asked if his fight against Omar Salcedo is an eliminator for the WBC lightweight title on January 25 to determine the next mandatory challenger for champion Shakur Stevenson.
“When that time comes, I'll approach it differently,” Cruz said of fighting Shakur. “It's a division with a lot of talent. There are a lot of fighters with talent. I'm just focusing on myself.
💎 @andiamondcruise Ready to shine again… @DAZNBoxing #CruzSalcedo | January 25 | #paciconelson pic.twitter.com/aD0UcmWhmq
— Match Room Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) January 17, 2025
