By Damián "Zafa" Ferrer

BoxingScene.com has been advised by featherweight contender Orlando Cruz (18-2-1 9 KOs) that he will face Abraham Lopez (17-0 12KOs) of California in a  WBO featherweight eliminator on October 19th.  The fight will headline the annual WBO Convention that will take place in Florida.

The Puerto Rican fighter said that the fight has been agreed to verbally and they are only waiting for the contracts. He is very excited to be a win a way from a title shot, even though he doesn't know anything about his opponent. 

"I am very excited to finally have this opportunity.  I have waited many years for this opportunity and I won't let it pass me by. 

"I haven't seen Lopez fight before. I don't even know if he's a righty or lefty. I just received the news and I haven't had a chance to study him yet." 

The winner will become the mandatory challenger for the winner of the Orlando Salido versus Mikey Garcia fight that will likely take place in November. Salido won the title when he knocked out Juan Manuel Lopez in Puerto Rico in April, 2011. He has successfully defended his title four times four times since then. Cruz finished up by saying that he hopes the Salido-Garcia winner will honor their mandatory obligation and face him next.

"I know that I have the talent to be a world champion and I hope that the winner of their fight will fight me. Every boxer dreams of becoming a champion and I am no different.  It is my time to realize my dreams," Cruz stated.