ANDY Cruz is widely regarded as a world champion in waiting, with fans eagerly anticipating every step of his promising career in the professional ranks.
His illustrious amateur career, after all, provides ample evidence of the Cuban’s remarkable quality, culminating in him securing a fourth victory over rising star Keyshawn Davis to claim gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
But now, Cruz, 4-0 (2 KOs), is gearing up for another calculated test in the pros, taking on rugged lightweight contender Omar Salcido, 20-1 (14 KOs), this Saturday.
The pair will square off on a Matchroom show at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, featuring on the undercard of Diego Pacheco vs Steven Nelson.
For Cruz, this assignment represents an opportunity to cement his position as a formidable lightweight contender, with both the IBF and WBA having already placed him in their top five rankings.
But, like with any elite level operator, the 29-year-old has only earned his position through dogged determination and tremendous resilience, often in the face of adversity.
After amassing 140 victories as an amateur, Cruz was set to make his professional debut in Cuba, where Fidel Castro’s ban on pro boxing was not lifted until 2022.
However, after being removed from the contest for reasons beyond his comprehension, the dynamic technician attempted to defect but was later arrested and banned from competing in his country.
His second attempt, of course, was more successful, with Cruz eventually settling down in Philadelphia where, under the tutelage of esteemed trainer Derek ‘Bozy’ Ennis, he has cultivated a flourishing fighter-trainer relationship.
While training alongside IBF welterweight titlist Jaron Ennis, too, ‘The Diamond’ has seemingly taken to the pro ranks like a duck to water, breezing past his first four outings with relative ease.
His next opponent, meanwhile, comes off an impressive ninth-round stoppage victory over Chris Colbert, outworking the flashy American through large spells of their one-sided contest.
At the same time, though, it is fair to say that, from a technical standpoint, Salcido remains levels below Cruz, a master when it comes to distance control.
And so, while the 25-year-old’s durability should see him go the full ten rounds, a comprehensive victory on points for Cruz appears to be the most likely outcome.
