Belmontes: I am not the opponent

Philadelphia, PA-Edner Cherry is not the only boxer frustrated with his career progress. Jerry Belmontes, who takes on Cherry in a 10-round lightweight fight on Saturday evening, Oct. 18, at the 2300 Arena here, knows the feeling.

The Cherry-Belmontes fight, as well as the 10-round heavyweight main event between Steve “USS” Cunningham of Philadelphia, and Natu “The Truth” Visinia, of Lakewood, CA, tops a seven-bout card at the 1,200-seat building at 2300 South Swanson Street.   NBCSN will televise both fights, beginning at 9 pm ET. The seven-bout card begins at 6:30 pm.

“Someone is trying to bring me in as an opponent to get my name on their resume so they can contend for a title,” Belmontes said. “Same script, just a different cast member this time.”

This will be Belmontes’ second trip to Philadelphia. Though he lost a 10-round decision the last time here in 2012 to Eric Hunter, Belmontes, of Corpus Christi, TX, is looking forward to coming back.

“Great feeling going back to Philly,” said Belmontes, who is19-5, 5 K0s. “A lot of love there…cannot wait to see my old Main Events (co-promoter) family.”

Belmontes is looking ahead, trying not to think what happened to him April 26 in Carson, CA, when he lost a disputed 12-roun decision to Omar Figueroa, of Weslaco, TX, for the WBC world lightweight title. He understands a win over world-rated Cherry (No.11 IBF, No. 17 WBC) will put him back in the mix.

“Respect to [Cherry] and his career but my back is against the wall yet again so I have to do what I have to do,” Belmontes said.

Cherry, 32, of Wauchula, FL, is 32-6-2, 17 K0s. He has not lost since 2008 when he dropped a 12-round decision to Timothy Bradley for the WBC junior welterweight title.

About October 18