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 the WBC lightweight title eminator on January 25th. DAZN from The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Chelsea Ballroom, Las Vegas.

Cruz-Salcido will be fighting on the undercard of Diego Pacheco vs. Steve Nelson, and there’s a good chance he’ll steal the show. Also on the card is unbeaten light welterweight Ernesto Mercado (16-0, 15 KOIs) fighting former two-time world champion Jose ‘Sniper’ Pedraza.

WBC Title Eliminator

If Andy Cruz wins against Salcido, the talented Cuban could challenge the WBC lightweight champion. Shakur Stevenson on his head this year. Shakur has big plans for this year. He hopes to beat Floyd Schofield on February 22nd and defend #1 William Zepeda if he can’t lure Vasily Lomachenko into the ring.

In addition, the fight with Gervonta Davis at the end of the year. In all likelihood, Shakur will have to settle for someone else, but probably not Cruz unless the World Boxing Council gives him a chance.

“My Son”

Cruz would also like to face Keyshawn Davis if he can capture the WBO lightweight title next month against champion Denys Berinchyk on February 14 at Madison Square Garden. Andy knows Keyshawn well, whom he calls “my son” because he has fought him four times in the tournament, beating him each time in one-sided contests.

Cruz’s victory was so big in the 2020 Olympic finals that Keyshawn seems to be in despair, celebrating his defeat after the fight, it seems that he lost the fight. Since Cruz turned pro in 2023, he repeatedly called Keyshawn, but without success.

The Norfolk, Virginia native wants no part of the fight against Cruz, and it’s understandable why. He will interfere with his work, and he cannot afford to do this for good.

It’s a completely different story when you lose in the pro game because it’s permanent and hard to come back unless someone like Turki Al-Sheikh takes an interest in you and is willing to let you go. losing the day and continue to take advantage of paydays.

“Yes, this is official (WBC),” Andy Cruz told YSM Sports Media when asked if his fight against Omar Salcido is a WBC title eliminator on January 25 to determine his next challenger Shakur Stevenson.

“When that time comes, I’m going to do it differently,” Cruz said of the Shakur fight. “It’s a team with a lot of talent. There are a lot of fighters with talent. I just think about myself.

💎 @Andydiamondcruz ready to review… @DAZNBoxing #CruzSalcido | | January 25 | #PachecoNelson pic.twitter.com/aD0UcmWhmq

– Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) January 17, 2025