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Cloud has given good reason to raise the level of his promoter’s optimism. It’s been 18 up, 18 down since the Tallahassee (FL) native turned pro four years ago. Only one opponent has managed to hear the final bell – career loser Reggie Strickland who long ago discovered the art of extending opponents the distance. Cloud’s 17 other victims haven’t been as fortunate, none of them lasting more than five rounds (the Strickland fight was only scheduled for four rounds).

As far as fans in the Windy City are aware, Cloud knows no other way to handle opponents than to knock ‘em cold. Friday night will be his 10th straight fight in Chicago; the previous nine have lasted a combined total of 23 rounds, with his most recent fight – a 1st round knockout of Mike Wood in the very same Aragon Ballroom arena that hosts this weekend’s telecast - not even going 90 seconds.

However, the downside is almost equal to the upside that comes with developing a reputation as a knockout artist. Part of the problem with guys being shown the exit early on a consistent basis is that very little is being learned on the way up. It’s true for a significant portion of Cloud’s career, though not one completely without test.

Scrappy but vulnerable spoiler Jose Luis Herrera was brought in to face the stocky puncher last summer. He would eventually go the same way as most of Cloud’s opposition, but not before providing him with his first taste of adversity.

The first three rounds went the same way as all of Cloud's pro bouts to date – one-sided in his favor. Then came the fourth. Herrera, falling way behind, resorted to his old bag of tricks. A head butt left Cloud cut and bloody, suddenly creating a sense of urgency.

Cloud could've panicked like a young prospect. He instead came through like an old pro, turning up the heat with a measured attack before eventually icing Herrera with a right hand midway through the fifth.

To date, it's the only time Cloud had ever been extended beyond the fourth round. Unless he’s that good, that status figures to change when he steps into the ring this weekend against Gonzalez, by far his biggest fight to date.

It’s fitting in a small way that Cloud’s first major test will come against Gonzalez (41-5, 25KO), himself familiar with proving his worth on the ESPN2 level before stepping up to prime time. Many remember the California-based Mexican for the wrong reasons, namely his failed title bid against Roy Jones in 2001, in which he seemingly spent half the night on the canvas, a night where he wasn’t even remotely competitive. But it was his balls-to-the-wall showing earlier in the year on the Deuce that landed him the opportunity.

Gonzalez had fought primarily in California in his early years, running his record to 25-0 while flying under the radar before landing an ESPN2 main event against then-fellow unbeaten light heavyweight Julian Letterlough. It was unknown at the time that the winner would land a future assignment against the sport’s pound-for-pound best fighter, though both fighters threw down as if their careers were at stake.

Twelve rounds and five knockdowns later, the first major Fight of the Year contender was produced for 2001. Gonzalez thrice climbed off of the canvas to score two knockdowns of his own in taking a competitive yet convincing unanimous decision by night’s end.

Two fights later, his first loss would come with the aforementioned Jones debacle, though it didn’t take long to rebuild. Eight wins would follow, with Glen Johnson and Dariusz Michalczewski included among the lot. The verdict against Johnson wasn’t quite met with great enthusiasm, with many believing Gonzalez to have escaped with a gift in their January ’03 Telefutura bout. But even if his year arguably started wrong, it certainly ended strong, traveling to Germany and becoming the first to upend Michalczewski, taking the linear light heavyweight crown with a spirited decision win over the transplanted Pole.

The moment was bittersweet for Gonzalez, who in a very indirect way atoned for the poor showing against Jones two years prior. For years, a Jonez-Michalczewski matchup was all that mattered at light heavyweight, only for the two sides to come up with endless excuses to avoid facing the other. What was left was a debate as to who was the real light heavyweight kingpin. Jones had the belts and the backing of HBO and the stateside media; Michalczewski had claims to the linear crown, by way of beating Virgil Hill, who defeated Henry Maske at a time when they were the two best full-time light heavyweights in the world.

Gonzalez’ win over Michalczewski muddied up the waters a bit; Jones already owned scoreboard , but those who insist titles are only won and lost in the ring and not in the courtrooms couldn’t deny the lineage that existed in Gonzalez’ claim.

It became a moot point, as his didn’t even make it three months – or out of Germany. He lost his crown in his very next fight, dropping a decision to Zsolt Erdei, who has since held the linear title ransom in his corner of the world.

Meanwhile, Gonzalez has attempted to pick up the pieces, but hasn’t since managed a win streak greater than three fights, which he’s compiled on two separate occasions. Both led to separate failed title bids against Clinton Woods, spaced two years apart, but offering not only the same outcome but nearly identical scorecards to boot.

A comeback fight against Reggie Johnson represents his lone action of 2008, resulting in a surprising upset loss. Some referred to it as a hometown decision for former two-division titlist Johnson, who was 41 and fighting for the first time in 2 ½ years. A case could be made for Gonzalez having been robbed, though it’s tough to look past the fact that it shouldn’t have even come to that.

Against Cloud, the 32-year old Gonzalez finds himself in a situation he hasn’t encountered in years – a top light heavyweight contender under the age of 30. Like most of the rest of the light heavyweight division, Gonzalez has benefited from extending his career against a crop of fighters who are closer to middle-age than they are to their prime. Come Friday night, Gonzalez finds out just how much he has truly has left.

Of course, the upset bug could always resurface. 2008 has been the year of the upset, with more fighters losing their “0” on ESPN2 than on any other boxing circuit. If for that reason alone, their Wednesday/Friday Night Fights series have emerged as must-see TV, even when greater fights on paper lie ahead the following evening on HBO, Showtime or pay-per-view.

With no greater game in town on this Saturday or any other for the next five or so weeks, ESPN2 truly becomes your boxing authority this weekend.