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 Las Cosmopolitan, Vegas, Chelsea Ballroom, Las Vegas.

Cruz-Salcido will fight on the undercard of Diego Pacheco vs. Steve Nelson, and they have a good chance to steal the show. Also on the card is undefeated light welterweight Ernesto Mercado (16-0, 15 KOIs) against former two-division world champion Jose 'Sniper' Pedraza.

WBC Title Eliminator

If Andy Cruz is victorious against 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 22nd and then defend against #1 William Zepeda if he can't lure Vassily Lomachenko to the ring.

Fighting Gervanta Davis later in the year. Presumably, Shakur will have to settle for someone else, but probably not Cruz unless the World Boxing Council gives him no choice.

“my son”

Cruz will look to face Keeshon Davis if he wins the WBO lightweight title next month in his fight against champion Denis Berinchik on February 14th at Madison Square Garden. Andy is well-acquainted with Kishawn, whom he refers to as “my boy” as he fought him four times as an amateur, beating him each time in a one-sided contest.

Cruz's victory in the 2020 Olympic finals was so dominating that Keyshawn lost his mind, celebrating his defeat after the fight, seemingly clear that he would lose the fight. Since Cruz turned pro in 2023, he has repeatedly called Keyshon, but without luck.

Indigenous people in Norfolk, Virginia don't want to take part in the fight against Cruz again, and it's understandable why. He'll ruin his career, and he can't afford to do that in the pros.

It's a different story when you lose in the pro game because it's permanent and hard to come back unless someone like Turki Al-Sheikh is interested in you and willing to let you. Lose close to the clock And keep getting opportunities for big pay.

“Yes, it's (WBC) mandatory,” Andy Cruz told YSM Sports Media about whether his Jan. 25 fight against Omar Salcido is a WBC lightweight title eliminator to determine champion Shakur Stevenson's next mandatory challenger.

“When that time comes, I'll look at it differently,” Cruz said of the fight with Shakur. “This is a division with a lot of talent. There are many fighters with talent. I'm just focusing on myself.

💎 @andydiamondcruz Ready to burn again… @DAZNboxing #CruzSalcido | 25 January | #Pacheco Nelson pic.twitter.com/aD0UcmWhmq

— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) January 17, 2025