Eddie Hearn’s promoter says he spoke to Keyshawn Davis last night and “rew him” about Andy Cruz’s victory following the Cuban talent’s win over Omar Salcid in cosmopolitan Las Vegas.
(CREDIT: MELINA PIZANO / FUNDS)
Slušaj reminded that KeyShavn fought for Cruz four times in the amateurs and lost each time. He told Davis he had “mental block” from those losses and the memory is haunted. It did something to him.
5-0 and a nightmare
Olympic gold medalist Cruz (5-0, 2 KOs) is on the fast track to a world title shot and is matched against talented opposition to make a quick run at his belt.
He won Salcido (20-2, 14 KOS) last night easily, which is his best touch in 10 years with a decision of 99-91, 98-92 and 98-92. Salcido is a very good fighter, but he was out of his league against Cruz.
“I was wriggling the key. I like him. He said, ‘You know I beat him (Andy Cruz).’ You know I beat him up. ‘ I said, ‘Mate, he’s in your head. You have a mental block with Andy Cruz. You know you can’t beat him. You’ve fought him four times and you’ve never beaten him.’ ‘Well, that was in the amateurs.’ Look, you’re angry again.’ I was just rooting for him,” Eddie said IFL TVdiscussing his conversation with KeyShawn Davis about how problems with Cuban talent Andi Cruz.
“Andy’s great. I think people forget how good a salcido he was, too. I think he’s going to get better and better against better opposition,” Hurn continued of Cruz. “I think he switches off sometimes when he gets bored when he knows how easy it is, and he’s really, really good.
“IBF,” said HELL, when asked where Cruz was headed. “If Loma retires, it will be Abdullaev vs. Muratall, where it’s interim anyway, and Andy is next in line.”
Andy Cruz vs. the winner of Raymond Muratalla vs. Zaur Abdullae would be a good fight, but it wouldn’t be any more competitive than last night’s opponent, Omar Salcido. Muratalla is only hunting with one weapon, right hand. Cruz would have him at school.
Abdullaev would be no competition at all. They could also hand the IBF belt to Cruz if he faces the winner of the Muratalla vs. Abdullaev fight. The top tier would likely resist letting Muratalla Fight Cruz if he gets his hands on the IBF belt.
“It depends on Keyshavn Davis,” Hurn said when asked how far along the fight between Andy Cruz and Keyshavn is. “KeiShavn is going to fight (WBO lightweight champion) Berinchik (next). It’s an easy fight. So he escaped that and becomes the WBO world champion.
“Tell me one more fight in the lightweight division outside the tank. He’s 140 kilograms,” Hurn said when an interviewer mentioned the name of Teofimo Lopez as a button option for the fight after she captured the WBO lightweight title from Berinchik on February 14.
Handjob Cruz?
It’s the same thing with the Muratalla-Abdullaev fight. The top tier promotes KeyShawn Davis and they won’t want to let him fight Andy Cruz, knowing that his chances are going to lose. They try to turn the keys into the next star with careful matches.
Moreover, he repeatedly rejected the fight against Cruz. So it’s not just the top rank that doesn’t want this fight. KeyShawn would have to get in the ring to fight Cruz because he knows his career will be permanently on the upswing if he fights him. KeyShawn is a classic example of hype. Let’s get that out of the way.
A fight for Cruz would shine a light on what KeyShavn is, and he will resist the fight with every ounce of energy he has. A top rank will probably help. If Keyshawn got his hands on the WBO belt next month, he will vacate it if Cruz becomes his mandatory outing and fight. That’s my prediction.
“There are two fights that people will say, ‘I’m more interested than Andy Cruz.’ That’s a tank, which I don’t think will happen this year and Shakur,” he continued to listen. “That’s his (Keyshawn’s) best friend. He’s never going to fight. Tell me a more intriguing fight, better narrative, more competitive than Keyshawn Davis vs. Andy Cruz.”
Easy way
Hearing is right. Cruz is the best fight out there for Keyshavn, but he’s wrong if he thinks that’s going to happen. Eddie is not American, and he doesn’t know people from the US. KeyShavn is so easy to read. He wants an easy life and money, and he’s not going to fight Cruz anymore.
“So, for me, I think it’s a natural fight. They fought four times. Andy Cruz won every time,” Hearn said. “He calls him a son, and the build-up is going to be great. It’s a great fight, and it’s a 50-50 fight. KeyShavn looks really good. He’s got a lot of experience in the pros now, and Andy’s only got five fights.”
Cruz will make KeyShawn look like the clean duck he is and fans will notice. He’ll always look #2. It doesn’t matter how well he maneuvers the high-end maneuvers to make himself look better than he is.
“Andy beat Salcido tonight. (Antonio) Moran last time. He moves fast and he’s a hell of a talent,” Hearn said.
