By Ryan Burton
Lightweight contender Luis Cruz (21-3) returns to the ring for the first time this year against Edner Cherry (33-6-2) this Saturday at the USF Sundome in Tampa, Florida. The fight will be streamed on espn3.com before ESPN goes live with the Keith Thurman-Luis Collazo and Tonny Harrison-Willie Nelson fights.
The crossroads fight will have big implications on both fighters career. Cruz last fought in August when he was upset by Joaquin Chavez who was 7-13 at the time. The 32-year-old Cherry has won 9 bouts in a row against mostly limited opposition since losing a decision to Tim Bradley in 2008.
Cruz is eager to make up for that loss and hopes a win over Cherry leads him to a big fight.
"I thought I won the Chavez fight. I should have gotten that. Now I am concentrating on this fight. I want to get the win. After this fight hopefully I can get the big fights. That is what I am focusing on," the Puerto Rican told BoxingScene.com.
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