Pedro Roque is an institution when boxing is spoken. The prestigious Cuban coach worked hand with the legendary Alcides Sagarra and then took his place at the head of the National Antillana squad, which he led in maximum transcendence events, such as the Beijing Olympic Games. Unfortunately, the fact of leaving without crowns in the Chinese capital (won four silvers and the same amount of bronz) implied a sentence on the island and then emigrated.
For more than 15 years Roque has lived memorable episodes in professionalism, although he has completely cut that bond with amateur boxing. In fact, at the Paris Olympic Games, only a few months ago, it led to also Cuban Loren Berto Alfonso to the runner -up representing Azerbaijan. In his record there are many other triumphs in rented circuits, so it is worth listening to all his criteria.
In a recent interview with Eduardo Martell “El Viking, boxing specialist and other combat sports,“ Peter ” – as they know him in the world of quadrilaterals – offered considerations about two of the fashion Cuban pugilists, Andy Cruz and David Morrell Jr., who will face two -importance fights in their professional careers.
The first exam will be that of Andy, which this Saturday will cross gloves with the Mexican Omar Salcido in The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan, in Las Vegas. Many expectations has generated this combat of “El Diamante”, undefeated in four professional fights precisely against Aztec opponents between July 2023 and August 2024.
Juan Carlos Burgos, Jovanni Straffon, Brayan Zamarripa and Antonio Moran have been the victims of the Matancero, Olympic Champion and Triple World Monarch in Leides Amateurs, who now expects to take another step to capture the attention of the highest short -term rivals. In this regard, Roque considers that the Antillean must take things calmly.
“Andy Cruz is going to crown in professional boxing, but I don’t think it’s so immediate. In its division there are still powerful names. Even Vasiliy Lomachenko has demonstrated with her age (36 years) that she is there and is still champion. Andy still needs to walk a little, ”he considered the experienced coach.
“I am not inside your team, but I think and suggest that you go step by step,” added Roque, who has collided in front of several of the potential “coconuts” in the division of light weights. “I know Gervonta Davis, Shakur Stevenson, William ‘Camarón’ Cepeda and Lomachenko himself because I faced them and I know how dangerous they are. I’m sure Andy will have their level, but you have to go little by little, ”he said.
Roque, in effect, knows the demands to face, for example, Gervonta Davis, because he had Caro’s face on December 28, 2019 in a fight against his disciple Yuriorkis Gamboa. On that occasion, the northern defeated the Guantanamero by technical knockout in the battle for the vacancy of the AMB (World Boxing Association).
Andy still has a way to go to get to opposites of so much caliber, but is on the indicated path. After only four professional fights, the Cuban appears in outstanding positions in The rankings Of the four most prestigious organizations of professional boxing: it is fifth of the FIB (International Boxing Federation), Fourth of the EB, sixth of the WBC (World Boxing Council) and Tenth of the OMB (World Boxing Organization).
What does the corner of Omar Salcido say?
Andy Cruz’s valuations could improve if Omar Salcido defeats this Saturday, but the fight will not be a simple procedure. The Mexican camp, led by coach José Benavídez Mr., has sharpened his teeth for this fire test, although they recognize the great level of the Cuban.
“Salcido is a very disciplined fighter. It has 22 fights, experience and strength. He was given the opportunity to face Andy Cruz, which is great. It is a very difficult test, but we have trained very hard in Miami and I think we can surprise, ”said Benavidez Mr. to colleague Jorge Ebro.
The Aztec coach considers that Cuban fighters have a “great style and a great school”, so this confrontation with Andy will be a fire test in which they can only get airy in one way: “the only way to win is by The knockout route. We know that and I think I see a knockout. It can be in 10 or can be earlier if we manage to connect. Salcido hit hard, ”he added in statements collected by the new Herald.
For his part, Salcido said that he trusts his tools to get a triumph: “I give all my respect to Andy Cruz, who is a great boxer, but I think I have what I need to give him a good fight and take the victory. We are working as never before, keeping in mind every detail. I know that many see it as a favorite, but I’m going to give the maximum. “
