By Jake Donovan

Perhaps it can be taken as a compliment when getting a fighter's hometown wrong is the most disrespectful thing that can be said about him.

Super featherweight titlist Jose Pedraza (20-0, 12KOs) remains appreciative of all that he has achieved and that the sport continues to offer him. The unbeaten boxer from Puerto Rico was as calm as his "Sniper" nickname would suggest during Thursday's pre-fight press conference ahead of his defense versus Edner Cherry this weekend. The two collide at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio, serving as the Showtime-televised chief support to local attraction Adrien Broner in a 12-round vacant title fight with Khabib Allakhverdiev.

Lavish praise was heaped upon the 26-year old by event co-promoter Leon Margules, except when it came to identifying his hometown.

"I know they said Caguas, but I am actually from Cidra, Puerto Rico," Pedraza said with a smile, his comments translated into English by his co-promoter Javier Bustillo. "Caguas boasts a few other fighters (such as Miguel Cotto and Juan Manuel Lopez), but I am from Cidra."

Pedraza's hometown is roughly 30 minutes southwest of Caguas and one hour south of San Juan, Puerto Rico's capital which in a boxing sense boasts the likes of rising unbeaten star Felix Verdejo. Both fighters have made their mark on Puerto Rico's rich boxing history; Pedraza represented the island during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, while Verdejo advanced to quarterfinals competition in the 2012 London Olympics.

Both continue to enjoy success in the pro ranks, but Pedraza was first to the title stage. On a night where Verdejo made his HBO-televused debut in New York City, Pedraza claimed a 130 lb. title on Showtime, outpointing Andrey Klimov over 12 rounds in Birmingham, Alabama.

For his second straight fight, he plays the co-feature slot to a main event performer fighting in his hometown. It can be argued that Saturday's bout marks his stiffest challenge to date, even more so than when he fought for the title.

Cherry (34-6-2, 19KOs) is seven years Pedraza's senior, although it has also been that long since his last loss. The Florida-based Bahamian dropped a 12-round decision to then-unbeaten 140 lb. champ Tim Bradley in Sept. '08, having since gone unbeaten in his last 11 starts.

None of this is lost on the defending champ, who embraces the challenge.

"Edner Cherry is a tough veteran fighter. He's been in with the very best, such as Tim Bradley and Paul Malignaggi," Pedraza noted before offering the closest he will ever come to trash talk in somewhat of an apologetic tone. "I feel bad for him, but he will have to take another defeat on his record this weekend."

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of krikya360.com.

Twitter: @JakeNDaBox

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