Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank
Orlando Salido vs. Orlando Cruz
Gabriel Rivas, Contributing Writer
Although he has problems with crafty boxers such as Yuriorkis Gamboa, Orlando Salido has the chin and the tenacity to take this fight to the distance. He doesn’t have as much power as Mikey Garcia or Robert Guerrero–fighters he has lost to–but does have the determination to take the fight to the distance. Furthermore, I don’t think that Cruz has enough strength or skill to keep Salido off of him enough to outbox him. I predict a win in the later rounds for the more experienced Salido.
Prediction: Salido
Rob Anthony, Contributing Writer
The battle of Orlando. Orlando Salido vs. Orlando Cruz is for the vacant WBO title. Cruz hasn’t really been tested yet where we know Salido has faced some of the best in Juan Ma and Mikey Garcia. I will give this one to Salido via an eighth-round TKO.
Prediction: Salido
Lenin Acevedo, Photographer
Personally, this is my main event. Despite coming off a loss versus the highly talented Mickey Garcia last January, you just can’t count out this Mexican brawler. Salido has been in the ring with world-class elite fighters. He tends to be a slow starter so the early rounds will definitely be in Cruz’s favor. Cruz will dance around the ring using his boxing abilities to outbox the Mexican. However, it won’t take too long for Salido to land one of his wide hooks and determine the fight. A knockout in the 8th round.
Prediction: Salido
Brendan Montenegro, Contributing Writer
Cruz will take this. This will be a chess match that he will win. Salido has been in battles during his career, but this will not be one of them. Salido was down four times in his fight with Garcia, and in this fight he may go down once, but will lose it on the cards. Cruz by UD
Prediction: Cruz
Juan Carlos Burgos, Contributing Writer
The last time we saw Salido he was dusting himself off the canvas four times via the precision punching of Mikey Garcia. I don’t think that is a huge indictment of Salido as Garcia appears to be the real deal. Salido is a solid action fighter that is enjoyable to watch. The two times Cruz has stepped up his competition he has not fared well. In the immortal words of Emmitt Smith, he has gotten “Blowed Out.” The question in this fight will be, does Cruz have enough to keep Salido off him? I don’t look for a quick stoppage, but rather a systematic breakdown in what should be a somewhat enjoyable fight to watch.
Prediction: Salido
Alex Burgos, Editor in Chief
This is a classic “bull vs. matador” fight. Who can make the other guy fight their fight? You have to admire Cruz’s courageousness outside of the ring, being the first openly gay boxer. Our own writer Brendan Montenegro conducted a great interview with Cruz, which you should definitely read. All that being said, I think Salido will have more success coming forward and making this a rough-and-tough brawl than Cruz will have boxing from a distance. Salido by mid-to-late round KO.
Prediction: Salido
