02.02.06 – Photo: TOM CASINO / SHOWTIME – Boxers (left-to-right) Jose Armando Santa Cruz, Jose Luis Castillo, Rolando Reyes and Edner Cherry pose after Thursday’s press conference in El Paso, Tex. In the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING doubleheader Saturday on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast). Castillo faces Reyes in a 12-round lightweight belt and Santa Cruz risks his NABF lightweight title against Cherry.
In a pair of excellent 12-rounders Saturday on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast), former two-time WBC lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo faces Rolando Reyes in a 12-round lightweight bout and Jose Armando Santa Cruz defends his NABF 135-pound title against Edner Cherry.
JOSE LUIS CASTILLO (53-7-1, 47 KOs)
“This is going to be a great fight. I am happy to be fighting on SHOWTIME and fighting in El Paso. I know Reyes is coming to fight and that I can’t underestimate him. This is going to be a great fight.’’
ROLANDO REYES (26-3-2, 16 KOs)
“My weight is cool and I am ready to go. My mind is on winning. I am ready to shock the world. Castillo expects an easy fight. I don’t think he trained hard enough. On Saturday, I am going to prove that I am a fast, good fighter and that it is not going to be easy for him.
“This may just be another fight for Castillo, but for me this is my big chance, my golden opportunity. Win it and I am right where I want to be.’’
JOSE ARMANDO SANTA CRUZ (21-1, 12 KOs)
“This is my first time on SHOWTIME and I hope to make the best of it and leave a good impression. Many more people will see me on SHOWTIME Saturday than have in my entire career. This is really going to be a great fight, maybe the best one of the night. I am looking forward to it. I know Cherry is tough. The first two rounds, I am going to see what he has. After that, it will be bombs away.’’
EDNER CHERRY (19-3-2, 8 KOs)
“This is my coming out party, a great chance to show the world who I am and what I am about. I have been waiting for a fight where I can step up and this is it. A win Saturday will open a lot of doors for me. I would like to thank everybody involved for making this happen. I am very excited and ready to fight.’’