Jose Pedraza: record, next fight and profile →
CINCINNATI, Ohio--Jose Pedraza hard to work long and hard to preserve his unbeaten record, outlasting Edner Cherry en route to a 12-round split decision Saturday evening at U.S. Bank Arena. Scores were 116-112 for Cherry, and 117-111 (twice) in favor of Pedraza, who made the first defense of his super featherweight title.
Perhaps it can be taken as a compliment when getting a fighter's hometown wrong is the most disrespectful thing that can be said about him. Super featherweight titlist Jose Pedraza (20-0, 12KOs) remains appreciative of all that he has achieved and that the sport continues to offer him. The unbeaten boxer from Puerto Rico was as calm as his "Sniper" nickname would suggest during Thursday's pre-fight press conference ahead of his defense versus Edner Cherry this weekend. The two collide at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio, serving as the Showtime-televised chief support to local attraction Adrien Broner in a 12-round vacant title fight with Khabib Allakhverdiev.
Whenever Adrien Broner fights in his hometown, he IS the show. Even in not talking to the media, all eyes have been on the fighting pride of Cincinnati ahead of his showdown with Khabib Allakhverdiev at U.S. Bank Arena. That doesn't mean everyone else on the show has to bow down and settle for second place. With that mindset, Jose Pedraza and Edner Cherry have every intention of making sure fans remember who they are at the end of their super featherweight title fight.
CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Everything is set for Adrien Broner, as he goes for his fourth world title in his home state of Ohio, Broner and his opponent, Russia's Khabib Allakhverdiev participated in the official weighin on Friday. Former three-division world champion Broner(30-2, 22 KOs) came in at 138.5-pounds, while former WBA "regular" world champion Allakhverdiev (19-1, 9 KOs) was 139-pounds. They will battle for the vacant WBA "regular" world title this Saturday, Oct. 3 live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) from U.S. Bank Arena.
By Jake Donovan - The traditional perception of a sniper is a marksman shooter who studies every move made by the enemy target while tucked away out of sight, thus making for a dangerous weapon. In that sense – and not necessarily his ability to take out his opponents with a single punch – Jose Pedraza’s “Sniper” nickname couldn’t be more appropriate. Despite his amateur pedigree – having fought for Puerto Rico during the 2008 Beijing Olympics – the unbeaten super featherweight never really landed on the mainstream boxing radar until his rapid ascension from prospect to contender. His rise to glory was clouded by the resurgence of Miguel Cotto, who last summer became Puerto Rico’s first-ever boxer to win titles in four weight classes following his one-sided 10th round stoppage of World middleweight champion Sergio Martinez. Thoughts of gaining respect as a top prospect was overshadowed by the arrival of Felix Verdejo, a lightweight from San Juan who turned pro shortly after his run in the 2012 London Olympics.
There are a few themes that come with Saturday's Showtime-televised card at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. The headliner pits Adrien Broner and Khabib Allakhverdiev - two fighters both coming off of losses - in a vacant 140 lb. title fight. Allakhverdiev's loss - the first and only of his career to date - came 18 months ago, conceding his title to Jessie Vargas over 12-hard fought rounds.
CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Two days before Adrien Broner goes for his fourth world title in his home state of Ohio, Broner and his opponent, Russia's Khabib Allakhverdiev participated in a final press conference Thursday at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. Former three-division world champion Broner(30-2, 22 KOs)returns to his hometown against fellow former world champion Allakhverdiev(19-1, 9 KOs) for the WBA Super Lightweight world title this Saturday, Oct. 3 live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) from U.S. Bank Arena.
Cincinnati, OH - This Saturday night, live on Showtime®, undefeated Puerto Rican star Jose "The Sniper" Pedraza (20-0, 12KO's) makes the first defense of his IBF junior lightweight world championship when he defends his crown against dangerous, former world-title challenger and IBF #14-rated Edner "Cherry Bomb" Cherry (34-6-2, 19KO's). The championship matchup will be the lead supporting bout to Adrien Broner's battle against Khabib Allakhverdiev for the vacant WBA world super lightweight title. Showtime will begin live coverage starting at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
Stephen Smith is next in line for a shot at a super-featherweight world title after blowing away Devis Boschiero in six rounds on Saturday night. The Liverpool fighter delighted a home crowd at the Olympia as a series of vicious body shots earned him a TKO victory and a crack at Jose Pedraza's IBF super-featherweight title. With his brothers Paul and Liam already earning world title shots and younger sibling Callum on the rise, Smith's victory was another feather in the cap of one of England's foremost fighting families.
Stephen 'Swifty' Smith claims he has what it takes to dethrone super-featherweight champions ahead of facing Devis Boschiero on Saturday. The 30-year-old (22-1-KO12) is determined to establish himself as a leading light in the division but must first negotiate a path past the dangerous Boschiero (37-3-1-KO19) in an IBF eliminator in Liverpool - live on Sky Sports. Smith told Sky Sports: "Jose Pedraza is the man we're targeting because he's IBF champion. I think he's a good fighter and a good world champion. I wouldn't want it given to me because I think you should have to go out and beat someone of that level.