Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, North Carolina, was the host for ESPN’s “Wednesday Night Fights” weekly card and on top of the bill lightweight action ensued as Edner “Cherry Bomb” Cherry 24-5-2 (12) faced off against former lightweight champion Stevie “Lil but Bad” Johnston 42-6-1 (18) for the WBC USNBC Lightweight Title.

Cherry stepping into the ring for the first time in 2008 after having a shaky 2007 where he went 2-1 with one of those losses being to current IBF 140 lbs titlist Paul Malignaggi, was hoping to redeem himself a bit in front of a national television audience and show he is still a threat in the division. While his opponent former WBC Lightweight Champion Stevie Johnston who also entered this bout with a 2-1 record over his last three bouts had a similar plan in mind by wanting to prove he should not be written off at 35 years old as a fighter who still carries a threat to the current title holders, making this bout an important win for either man.

When the bout began it was apparent from almost the start whose night this was going to be. Johnston who built his career being an excellent boxer and counter puncher was put on the defensive from the opening bell. The younger Cherry pressured Stevie throughout the night giving him little chance to mount any offense of his own. In rounds three and nine Edner sent Johnston to the canvas for eight counts. While Johnston rose up off the floor both times to continue it was to no avail because in the tenth round Cherry let loose a right hand that sent the former champion packing for the night. It is the second time in seven months Johnston has been stopped.

On the undercard Johnnie Edwards 14-2-1 (8) faced another former champion Freddie Norwood 42-3-1 (23) in a rematch of their September 2007 bout where Norwood was disqualified for low blows. This bout Norwood fared no better as he was put on the canvas in the third and then stopped cold in the seventh. This will be the second loss in a row for the former WBA Featherweight Champion.

Also on the undercard former cruiserweight title holder Arthur Williams 44-15-1 scored a six round unanimous decision over Clarence Moore 5-3-1.

Have you ever heard the saying that things happen in threes? The rule of three is a principle that suggests that events happen or repeat themselves three times which is exactly what Stevie Johnston is hoping will be a reality tomorrow night when he faces Edner Cherry on ESPN’s Wednesday Night Fights in Jacksonville, NC.

Former lightweight champion “Lil, But Bad” Johnston is a 35 year-old veteran of the fight game looking to follow in the footsteps of fellow veteran lightweights Nate Campbell and Joel Casamayor.

The 36 year-old Campbell defeated the formerly undefeated 24 year old Juan Diaz to claim the IBF, WBA and WBO Lightweight Titles at the beginning of March. Two weeks later a 36 year-old Casamayor showed he still had what it takes to be on top by defeating another formerly unbeaten fighter 27 year-old Michael Katsidis, claiming the Interim WBO Lightweight Title and retaining the Ring Lightweight Championship.

In the former two cases each veteran was in their mid-thirties while their opponents were undefeated and in their mid-twenties. Although Cherry is not undefeated he is 25 years-old and will be the biggest challenge Johnston has faced since his KO loss to Vivian Harris in 2006.

Last year Cherry had his most high profile fight when he moved up to light welterweight to face Paulie Malignaggi who outboxed him over ten rounds loosing by scores of 100-90 and 98-92 twice. More...