Brandon Berry, left, throws a punch during a boxing match against Agustin Cicero in a recent bout in Windham, New Hampshire. Berry, a West Forks native, won his latest fight, a TKO win over Gael Ibarra at the SportsZone in Derry, New Hampshire. Photo provided by Emily Harney/Fightography

Eight years ago this month, Brandon Berry began his professional boxing career. Saturday, Berry will make the biggest jump of that career, with his first pro fight outside of New England.

A West Forks native and welterweight, Berry (21-5-2) will fight Alex Sandro Duarte (15-11-1) at the Mariott World Center in Orlando, Florida.  Until Wednesday, Berry was scheduled to fight Gabriel Fernando Punalef Calfin, a veteran boxer from Argentina. The fight promoters, Lank Promotios, told Berry that Calfin was having trouble securing travel and had to back out. Berry said he knows a little about Duarte, having prepared to fight him in a bout that ultimately was canceled approximately a year ago.

“Not who I wanted and trained for but still am happy to fight,” Berry said.

Saturday’s fight will not be a defense of the Universal Boxing Association All-American Welterweight title Berry won last year with a victory over Zack Kuhn and defended three weeks ago, beating Gael Ibarra via TKO in the fifth round. Berry has won his last eight fights, six by TKO.

This will be Berry’s second fight in three weeks, and third since mid-March. Berry said he’s not concerned that fatigue could be a factor Saturday night.

“I rested a week (after the Ibarra fight). That’s actually longer than I planned,” Berry said.

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Berry said promoter Fabiano Pena got him this fight on the Lank Promotions card.

“He knows my wife (Jillian) and I like to go to Florida. This fight came at the right time,” Berry said.

According to Berry’s profile on boxrec.com, he’s currently ranked 91st out of 380 welterweights in the nation. Now 33 years old, Berry sees this fight in Orlando as a chance to gain more notice and perhaps the opportunity for bigger and better fights. As Berry said, he’s not getting any younger.

“If I can go to Orlando and beat a guy like this, it makes me more appealing to promoters. If I win, I’m worth their time,” Berry said.

Originally from Brazil, Duarte now lives in New York City. Dating back to March 2019, Duarte has lost five of his last six fights. Duarte’s last bout was on March 12, a third round TKO loss to Christopher Galeano in Plant City, Florida.

Saturday’s fight is scheduled for six rounds.

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