It has become a familiar refrain for Brandon “The Cannon” Berry, that he’s about to face the toughest fight of his professional boxing career.
“I know that’s been the thing lately,” said Berry, who is scheduled to fight Freddy Sanchez of Worcester, Massachusetts, at the Portland Exposition Building on Saturday night. “But it’s happening again, and I think it’s going to be more and more common from here on out.”
Berry enters the four-round light welterweight (142-pound) bout, part of the undercard for an International Boxing Association Americas middleweight championship battle between Portland’s Russell Lamour Jr. and Ahsandi Gibbs, with an 8-0 record since turning pro in May 2013.
It’s a run that has made him somewhat of a folk hero in northwestern Maine, with many of his fans routinely boarding buses along the route from Somerset County to watch him pursue his boxing dream.
So far, they have always returned home smiling. But Sanchez likely will represent a more significant challenge.
The Worcester, Massachusetts, product is 2-0 since turning pro earlier this year after developing an extensive national amateur resume, including his 2014 USA Boxing New England championship.
“This is by far Brandon’s toughest opponent,” said Portland Boxing Club founder Bobby Russo, whose promotion at the Expo will be the the 100th of his career. “This is a real challenge for Brandon. It’s going to be a tough fight, but Brandon’s been looking good lately and I think he can win. And hopefully he will.”
Berry, who trains out of Wyman’s Boxing Club in Stockton Springs, acknowledges that while he has had more professional fights than Sanchez, his opponent’s amateur resume is considerable.
“Although on paper I have more experience than him, he is the guy that has more experience in boxing — that’s for sure,” said Berry. “But I think this is the perfect time for this. It’s a step up. This is what I want and what the people want, and I’m ready.”
Berry, who has fought twice in the last two months, is coming off a unanimous decision over Eric Palmer of Pittsburgh in Lewiston on Oct. 11 in his first six-round bout.
“What I took out of the Palmer fight is that I know now I can go six hard rounds, because I was ready for more,” Berry said. “I should never have to worry about that, not that I was worried going into the fight, but it was something new. I had never gone six rounds in an actual fight, but I averaged close to 100 punches a round, which if you look at anybody at any level is a good number.
“I felt very good and my confidence level went even higher, so I learned you can throw me in deep water and I can adapt to it.”
The return to four rounds is a concession to Sanchez’ lack of pro bouts.
Berry and Sanchez have one pro opponent in common, Jesus Javier Cintron. Berry won his Sept. 12, 2013, bout against Cintron in Manchester, New Hampshire, by disqualification because of low blows. Sanchez knocked down Cintron twice en route to a first-round technical knockout last May 3 in Canton, Massachusetts.
“I won by disqualification against a guy who definitely was giving me a tough fight, and this guy knocked him out in the first round and I heard it literally was no contest,” Berry said. “I know that he’s obviously got some stopping power and lots of amateur experience, so I’m sure whatever I show him he’s dealt with in the past.”
Berry added that he has improved dramatically during the 14 months since his battle with Cintron.
“I’ve grown, I’ve matured, I’ve trained harder, I’m more relaxed, I’m much more comfortable in any situation that I’ve had to deal with so far,” he said. “That’s not to say Freddy can’t give me a situation that I haven’t been in, but I’m looking forward to this challenge.”
