In a clash of the lightweights, the always entertaining Edner Cherry (33-6-2, 18 KOs) squared off against tough Luis Cruz (21-3, 16 KOs) from Puerto Rico.
Floridian veteran Cherry entered the ring wearing his trademark long socks and received a warm reception from the local crowd.
The first three rounds were mostly ebb and flow with Cherry landing the better shots and neither man dominating the other.
After an apparent foul at the end of the third Cherry came out more aggressively over the next couple of rounds his left hook began finding its mark more often.
Cherry opened the seventh stanza well, ripping a left uppercut followed by a right cross to the jaw that sprayed sweat from Cruz’s head. Midway through the round Cruz returned the favor at the center of the ring and moments later dug a straight right to Cherry’s midsection.
Cherry ripped an excellent cross to Garcia’s chin in the eighth, which seemed to buzz him momentarily. Seconds later Cherry found himself on the canvas courtesy of an accidental butt.
Cherry remained down for a number of long seconds as those in attendance waited to assess the damage.
Cherry rose and upon the referees permission paced the ring for a couple of minutes until the crown began to boo impatiently. This appeared to inspire both fighters as they exchanged heated flurries.
Cherry caught up to Cruz in the ninth round as Cruz wove under a left hook directly into the path of a freight train right hand that dropped him. Cherry pursued his injured prey around the ring, knocking him down heavily and compelling the referee to stop the fight without a count.
