Cross vs. Salcido On DAZN This Saturday

Andy Cruz says he’s ready to fight Omar Salcido in his 10-round WBC lightweight title eliminator this Saturday, January 25 at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Chelsea Ballroom in Las Vegas.

2020 Olympic gold medalist Cruz (4-0, 2 KOs) looks to become the mandatory challenger to WBC 135-pound champion Shakur Stevenson with a win over Salcido (20-1, 14 KOs). The Mexican fighter is coming off a ninth-round knockout of Chris Colbert on October 16 last year.

Cruz vs. Salcido is the co-feature of the Diego Pacheco vs. Steve Nelson fight, which will air live on DAZN. This is Cruz’s chance to win over new fans who haven’t seen him fight. Two-year pro Cruz hasn’t been around long enough to be seen by fans, so he needs to make the most of every opportunity to be in the spotlight.

Capturing the title

“Andy Cruz was a great amateur fighter and had a great amateur career, but we’ve been working a lot these months with José Benavidez. Our plan is to go ahead and achieve this victory”, said Omar Salcido during today’s session final press conferencetalking about his fight this Saturday night against Andy Cruz in a WBC lightweight title eliminator.

“Andy, it feels like the biggest step for you yet. It was pretty comfortable last time on that big show in Los Angeles now,” Eddie Hearn told Cruz. “You’re just a couple of fights away from a world championship. It’s a real test for you on Saturday.”

“I’m excited for my fight on Saturday. I’m not a big talker. Everybody’s a great swimmer when they’re not in the water,” Cruz said.

“I know you have world championship ambitions for 2025. People are talking about you want to make your son, Keyshawn, proud on Saturday if he attends,” Hearn told Cruz about wanting to make Keyshawn Davis proud. “I know you’re firmly fixated on this man with a real test, Cuba against Mexico on Saturday.”

Cruz has been fully focused on his work against Salcido, and is not thinking about Keyshawn, who has already said in many interviews that he does not want to fight him. While Davis says he doesn’t want to fight Cruz again because he hasn’t proven himself professionally, it’s more about not wanting to beat him again.

“Of course, this is a step forward in my career as I’m moving forward. My full focus is on my opponent this Saturday, a Mexican fighter who is well prepared for this,” Cruz said. “Like I said, it’s not just about saying; it’s about doing, and on Saturday in the ring I will whatever you need

“I hope they do because we have some unfinished business there,” coach Brian ‘Bomac’ McIntyre told Social Boxing about his fighter, Keyshawn Davis, who has “unfinished business” with Cuba’s Andy Cruz after losing to him four times in the fans, including the 2020 Olympic gold medal match. “So we just have to ‘go and take over this business’.

Obviously, BoMac isn’t in too much of a rush to let his fighter Keyshawn mix it up with Cruz again because all the work he’s been doing in the gym could go down the drain. Cruz has proven time and time again that he is too good for Keyshawn, beating him four times in a row.

It will be no different in the pros, and there is a lot more for the Norfolk, Virginia native to lose at this level than there is in the amateurs. That’s why Top Rank won’t let Davis get anywhere near Cruz and screw things up.

FACE-OFF 👀@andydiamondcruz vs Omar Sortit

🛡 International IBF Continental Latin American and WBA 135lb titles #CruzSalcido | @DAZNBoxing | #PachecoNelson pic.twitter.com/ABNjhpN5Oc

— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) January 23, 2025