EDNER CHERRY has revealed he is glad to have dropped a unanimous decision to Timothy Bradley seven years ago as he prepares to challenge Jose Pedraza for his IBF world super-featherweight title on Saturday [October 3].
The 33-year-old failed in his attempt at Bradleyโs WBC super-lightweight strap in what was one of Cherryโs few forays into that weight division.
The Florida-based Bahamian feels staying at 140lbs would have been dangerous for him and insists he is now at the perfect weight.
โEver since my title loss to Timothy Bradley in 2008, Iโve pushed myself to get back into this position and to give myself the opportunity for a title shot at the right weight class.ย Iโm finally in the right weight class for me,โ he said.
โBradley was the much bigger fighter when we fought [in 2008]. That was a mistake on our end. He just was the bigger guy, but I was in the ring with one of the best fighters in the world and I really learned from that fight.
โI tell people that I am so glad that I didnโt win that title against Bradley because, in my mind, I wouldโve been fighting at 140, but that wasnโt my weight class. I wouldโve been risking my life fighting at 140. ย I glad I didnโt win it, but Iโm also glad I hung in there and got myself back into a big fight.โ
Cherry will face Pedraza on the Adrien Broner-Khabib Allakhverdiev undercard and claims he is more than ready to finally become a world champion.
โThis will be a very tough fight. ย Weโve been training hard and had a great camp,โ he noted.
โIโm not taking anything away from him [Pedraza], heโs a tough fighter. ย Heโs a champion for a reason.ย But on Saturday night Iโm coming for that title, thatโs my job.
โWe trained for 12 hard rounds, but if the knockout comes, then I will be very excited. ย All Iโm looking for is a very hard 12-round fight.โ
Puerto Ricoโs Pedraza, who won the vacant title in his last outing โ a unanimous decision win over Andrey Klimov in June โ holds a similar sentiment.
โWe train hard all the time, we are in great shape and we prepare for every fight like the opponent is the champion,โ he claimed.
โEdner Cherry is a very experienced fighter. ย He is a strong guy and good puncher.
โI am in great shape and Iโm ready to fight 12 rounds.
โThis could very well be the toughest fight of my career.ย He hasnโt lost in seven years. ย But we are very prepared, studied the fight well and are ready to go come Saturday.
โMy youth will play a huge part in this fight. Iโm much younger than him and, without a doubt, I will win this fight.โ