Andy Cruz says he is ready for a 10-round WBC fight with Omar Salcido this Saturday, January 25, at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas at the Chelsea Ballroom in Las Vegas Lightweight Championship Elimination Chamber.

2020 Olympic gold medalist Cruz (4-0, 2 KOs) looks to become the mandatory challenger to WBC 135-pound champion Shakur Stevenson by defeating Salcido (20-1, 14 KOs) . The Mexican warrior knocked out Chris Colbert in the ninth round on October 16 last year.

Cruz vs. Salcido is a co-feature of Diego Pacheco vs. Steve Nelson, which will air live on DAZN. This is Cruz’s chance to win over new fans who haven’t seen him play. The two-year pro Cruz has yet to appear in front of fans, so he must make the most of every opportunity to be in the spotlight.

title shot

“Andy Cruz is a great amateur boxer and had a great amateur career, but we’ve been working hard these past few months with Jose Benavidez. Our plan is to move forward and Get this win,” said Omar Salcido on today’s game final press conferencetalking about his WBC lightweight title eliminator matchup against Andy Cruz this Saturday night.

“Andy, this feels like your biggest improvement yet. The last big show in L.A. is pretty comfortable now,” Eddie Hearn said to Cruz. “You’re just a few races away from being world champion. It’s a real test for you on Saturday.”

“I’m excited about Saturday’s race. I’m not a big talker. Everybody’s a good swimmer when they’re not in the water,” Cruz said.

“I know you have 2025 world title ambitions. People are talking about you wanting to make your son Keyshawn proud when he fights on Saturday,” Hearn told Cruz about wanting Keyshawn Davis to feel Said proudly. “I know you’re fascinated by the real test, Cuba versus Mexico on Saturday.”

Cruz was entirely focused on the job against Salcido, and he wasn’t thinking about Keyshawn, who has said in numerous interviews that he doesn’t want to fight him. Although Davis said he doesn’t want to fight Cruz again because he hasn’t proven himself at the professional level, it’s more about not wanting to be beaten again.

“Of course, as I progress, it’s a step up in my career. My whole focus is on my opponent this Saturday, who is a Mexican fighter and he’s very prepared for it. “Cruz said. “Like I said, it’s not just about words; it’s about doing and I’m going to do what I need to do in the ring on Saturday.

“I hope they do because we have some unfinished business there,” trainer Brian ‘Bomac’ McIntyre said. boxing social Tells about his boxer Keyshawn Davis’s “unfinished business” with Cuban Andy Cruz after losing four times in the amateurs , which includes the 2020 Olympic gold medal game. “So, we just have to deal with that.”

Bomack is clearly in no rush to have his fighter Keyshawn mix it up with Cruz again, as all the work he’s put in in the gym could be for naught. Cruz proved time and time again that he was too good for Keyshawn, defeating him four times in a row.

It’s no different in the pros, and there’s a lot more to lose at this level for the Norfolk, Va., native than in the amateurs. That’s why Top Rank won’t let Davis get close to Cruz and let him ruin everything.

Face to face👀@andydiamondcruz VS Omar Salcido

🛡 IBF International and WBA Continental Latin America 135 lb Title #cruzsalcido | @DAZN boxing | #pacheconelson pic.twitter.com/ABNjhpN5Oc

— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) January 23, 2025