Edner Cherry: Weight-ing For His Time To Detonate

By Ryan Songalia

Edner Cherry's career can so far be summed up with one word: Almost.

Cherry almost became the IBF #2 contender in the IBF three years ago but came up on the wrong side of a split-decision against veteran Ricky Quiles. Quiles later went on to fight for an interim title a few bouts later.

Cherry almost overcame the relentless work-rate of Jose Armando Santa Cruz, dropping the Mexican windmill and nearly stopping him late. Santa Cruz held on to win the 12-round decision and picked up an interim belt in his next fight.

Cherry once again fell short against Paul Malignaggi in early 2007, in his first and only "regular" HBO appearance. He appeared lethargic during most of the early rounds before rallying late but was thoroughly outboxed for long stretches of the contest. It seemed that "The Cherry Bomb" had been permanently defused.

Almost.

"I've had ups-and-downs in my career, a few losses," Cherry, 24-5-2 (12 KO), concedes. "I learned from my mistakes in fights with Malignaggi and Quiles."

Against Malignaggi, Cherry only weighed in at 137 3/4 pounds, a diminutive figure for the junior welterweight division, and just never got into the fight. His natural identity was that of a lightweight and he soon after made his way back down to 135 pounds.

Knockout wins over Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s protege' Wesley Ferguson and former champion Stevie Johnston pushed him forward in the rankings and helped enhance his image as a legitimate contender. In both efforts, Cherry exhibited an increased sense of urgency which justified his explosive nickname.

"In those fights I put it in my head that I can't wait, I have to go out there and fight," Cherry, who earned ESPN2 Friday Night Fights' Boxer of the Year Award in 2006, says. "When that chance comes, you just have to take it and run with it."

Still only 26 years old but already a seasoned, 7-year pro, Cherry is revving up for his first title opportunity in the co-featured slot of Showtime's September 13 card in Buloxi, MS. The only catch is that it's set for a division where Cherry has yet to win a contest, junior-welterweight, against WBC titleholder Timothy Bradley. Cherry has never even weighed within 2 pounds of the 140 pound limit.

Nonetheless, Cherry is on Cloud Nine. Fighting for any world title is better than not fighting for one at all.

"I feel great, happy, excited. I have an opportunity to fight for a world title, why turn it down? I'm ready to do everything I have to do to pull it off."

A victory would answer a lot of long-standing prayers for the highly-religious native of The Bahamas, now residing in the Central Florida town of Wauchula. With a growing family to support, the substantial purses that a world title brings would alleviate many of the burdens of his household responsibilities.

"My family, they keep me going. I have a family to feed and Bradley opened up the door to me. This could change my life. I'll be able to put food on the table. I just want to see my kids grow up happy, that's all really.

"I'm just trying to make something out of myself."

It was a stroke of luck that landed him in this spot against the 22-0 (11 KO) Bradley in the first place. Initially, Randall Bailey, Juan Urango and Vivian Harris were considered front-runners for the first defense of Bradley's belt, which he wrested from Junior Witter in an upset victory earlier this year in England.

Cherry is not concerned about the weight difference, even though Bradley has fought many contests at welterweight and Cherry has routinely weighed under the limit for his lightweight assignments. Preparedness and intangibles can negate size disparities, Cherry confidently asserts.

"It's just how you handle it and how you train. It doesn't take me much to get me up there. After the weigh-in he'll probably be heavier, but a lot of people proved it that sometimes weight doesn't matter. [Manny] Pacquiao moved up and fought David Diaz, Floyd Mayweather has done it many times, Roy Jones moved up to heavyweight. It's what's in your heart, if you believe in yourself you can do it.

"I don't look at [Bradley] and say 'Oh, he's a 140-pounder.' I'm just trying to make the most out of me. He's just a regular person with a belt."

Edner will have to exercise a great deal of self-belief to pop Bradley's "cherry." Bradley is very physically strong for the class but is still seen as one of the increasing numbers of wild cards vying for control of a division in limbo. It remains to be seen whether Bradley's fortunes were a result of Bradley's meritorious skill or a product of Witter's inconsistency at the elite level. Or a mix of both.

"I take my hat off for Timothy Bradley, he's a good fighter. Now that he beat Junior Witter people start knowing who he is. He works hard. I know he isn't going to hand me the title like 'Here, Edner.' I know I'm in a tough fight and I have to do what I have to do."

Cherry compares his situation to that of another 5-defeat Floridian who happens to be defending his unified title in the main event against Joan Guzman. Like Nate Campbell, Cherry found his record to be a detriment when trying to secure financially-rewarding fights. And like Campbell, Cherry hopes to transcend his spotted loss column and ESPN2 roots by collecting a prized, unblemished scalp.

"Look at Campbell, he had to fight his way up to the belt. He fought [Juan] Diaz for something, not just to put on a show. Now he's right there. I'm trying to get every title I can get to prove that I'm the best."

Cherry takes notice of the lengthy road he traveled to get to this enviable position. He also recognizes that an opportunity like this might not present itself for a long time.

"You never know what tomorrow might bring. If it don't work out how it's supposed to, we'll have to go back to the drawing board. I never quit or stopped trying because you never know when that door opens again.

"For me, it doesn't get any better than this."

Sure it does. If he wins.

Boxing scene.com