Barely three weeks have passed since Brandon Berry’s last fight. Now, the West Forks native is preparing for the biggest fight of his professional career thus far.

On Saturday, Berry, 7-0, will fight Eric Palmer for the Northeast Junior Welterweight title in the main event of a fight night at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston.

“I’m looking at it as just another fight,” Berry said. “Whatever happens, happens.”

Berry’s last fight, at the Verizon Center in Manchester, N.H. last month, was over quickly. Berry defeated Theo Desjardin in the first round via technical knockout. Like that fight, Saturday’s fight versus Palmer is scheduled for six rounds.

Berry and his trainer, Ken “Skeet” Wyman, expect Palmer to be his toughest professional opponent yet.

“He’s a guy who’s going to test Brandon,” Wyman said. “Everyone that I’ve talked to that knows anything about (Palmer) says it’s going to be a good fight. … He appears on film that he does know how to box.”

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Palmer, of Pittsburgh, PA., is 4-3-3. and is the 2012 West Virginia Toughman champion. While Berry said he knows little about Palmer, a fight against Paul Pindroh on Aug. 23, 2013 jumps off Palmer’s resume, Berry said. Pindroh was undefeated at 4-0, and Palmer fought him to a four-round draw.

“To fight a draw with a 4-0 guy, that one stands out to me,” Berry said. “From what I hear from people who saw the fight, (Palmer) should’ve won. This is my toughest test to date as a pro.”

For Berry and Wyman, this title fight is the right move at this time in Berry’s professional career. Berry went pro in May, 2013. Five of his seven wins came via TKO.

“It’s one step at a time. We’re not looking past Eric Palmer, that’s for sure. It’s time for us to step up,” Wyman said. “A defeat here will put us back a few steps. It won’t stop us, and that’s not what we’re expecting.”

As part of the undercard of the event, Bingham native and current Clinton resident Joel Bishop will make his professional boxing debut, taking on Jared Lawton, in a super middleweight bout. As an amateur, Bishop had a record of 10-4 and was a Northern New England Golden Gloves finalist twice. Bishop graduated from Valley High School in 2004.

A graduate of Gardiner Area High School, Lawton is an accomplished mixed martial arts and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu fighter who is coming off a second-round KO win over John Ortolani at the Fight Night XII MMA Event at the Colisee in February.

Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM


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