Angel Fierro had to withdraw from his bout against Isaac “Pit Bull” Cruz, which was set to take place on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios pay-per-view event. Cruz, who holds a record of 27-3-1 with 18 knockouts, previously beat Fierro by unanimous decision in a lively match back in February. However, Fierro will now be replaced by Omar Salcido, as confirmed by sources to ESPN.
Reports from Ring Magazine indicate that Fierro, who has a record of 23-3-2 with 18 knockouts, was hospitalized due to health complications during his final weight cut. Salcido, with a 20-2 record and 14 knockouts, was initially set to fight Brian Galegos on the undercard but has been upgraded to face Cruz on the main card. Notably, Salcido lost to ESPN’s No. 6 ranked Andy Cruz earlier this year and has a knockout win over former interim titleholder Chris Colbert.
Fan Take: This last-minute change highlights the intense physical demands fighters endure during weight cuts, reminding fans of the risks involved in the sport. Salcido stepping in could add a fresh dynamic to the matchup, potentially reshuffling the pecking order in the junior welterweight division.
