Brandon Berry knew Freddie Sanchez would be his toughest opponent so far in his pro boxing career. It was even tougher after Berry injured his left shoulder in the first round.

Berry, a West Forks native, lost by technical knockout to Sanchez on Saturday night in Portland. Berry is now 8-1 as a professional.

“There’s definitely something wrong with my shoulder,” Berry said in a phone interview Sunday evening. “I just threw a punch, and it popped out of the socket. It’s the first time it’s ever happened.”

The fight was stopped with 57 seconds remaining in the four-round, junior welterweight bout. Berry admitted he was essentially a one-armed fighter after injuring his shoulder, and wished he had moved around the ring more instead of trying to trade punches, but also credited Sanchez with controlling the action.

“If I had three good arms, this would have been a hard fight,” Berry said. “He came to win. It’s not his fault my shoulder gave out.”

Berry plans to go to a hospital on Monday to get his shoulder checked out. He said the referee in Saturday’s fight asked him several times about the injured shoulder.

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“I kept telling him that it popped back in,” Berry said. “He knew I was lying.

“I just wanted to last. I just wanted to hear that final bell ring. I just wanted to show everybody that Brandon Berry doesn’t quit — one arm, no arms, whatever.”

Berry will learn more Monday about what kind of rehabilitation and recovery period he’ll need, but he is already looking ahead to his next fight.

“It will be as soon as possible,” he said. “I know the original plan was early spring. I just hope we can get right back to (it).”

Matt DiFilippo — 861-9243

mdifilippo@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @Matt_DiFilippo


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