Galal Yafai beats up an opponent who didn’t want to be there
Sunny Edwards’ startling admission swiftly leads to retirement
Sunny Edwards’ career came to an abrupt halt on Saturday evening in Birmingham. For those in the know, retirement was looming on the horizon for a flyweight seemingly done with the sport and ready to move on to other things. For the rest of us, we saw a 28-year-old former world champion and division number one under extreme pressure from Galal Yafai from the opening bell, suddenly unravel.
Image credit: BBC
Then came the weird part. At the end of round two, as the DAZN cameras edged into the Edwards corner to listen to instructions from new trainer Chris Williams, an audible remark from Sunny, that he didn’t want to be there, could be heard.
In the grand scheme of things, when a sport has produced bitten ears, public mid-fight meltdowns and other acts of outrage, fighting back tears and admitting you just don’t fancy it is pretty mild stuff. Perhaps the thousands of paying punters who had shelled out a wedge of their hard-earned cash, so close to Christmas, might think otherwise.
Until the merciful sixth-round stoppage from referee Lee Every, Sunny simply hung in there. Throwing back occasional shots, particularly with the uppercut, mostly he was rag dolled by Olympic gold medallist Yafai who stayed calm and composed under trainer Robert McCracken’s instructions, barely breaking a sweat.
Both men have pedigree. There was a faux family rivalry thrown into the pre-fight mix, along with the standard sparring story for good measure. After the fact, as Sunny bobbed around the ring, hugging an extremely deferential Yafai, everyone got what they wanted. Edwards sailed off into the sunset (for now. Don’t rule out a super-flyweight return in a couple of years; just saying).
Promoter Eddie Hearn gritted his teeth as to what had just occurred, paid homage to Edwards and spoke of a Yafai clash with Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, the man who sent Sunny stumbling down the retirement path in the first place.
A path that reached its conclusion on Saturday night. Starting with an unexpected comment, helped along by relentless Yafai barrages, ending a few sessions later, head bowed, wondering where it all went wrong.
Wins for Conway, Walker and Vuong on the Edwards-Yafai undercard
Kieron Conway won a split decision over Ryan Kelly to take home the vacant Commonwealth middleweight belt and remain in line for a shot at the British title. Conway just seems to lack that extra something. He is a capable operator who gives good fighters trouble but always seems to box within himself. Kelly, on the flip side, used his excellent jab and endeavoured to earn another decent opportunity. The Birmingham man is a good boxer.
Conah Walker boxed a little below his recent standards but still had too much at this stage for Lewis Ritson, who looks like an old man. Perhaps the shaven skull and thick beard have aged him. Once a fresh-faced destroyer at domestic level, Ritson has had a good career all in all. Walker will get more opportunities, given his personality, aggressive style and vocal fanbase.
Did Cameron Vuong do enough to beat Gavin Gwynne? It was a close fight between two very different styles. Vuong showed resolve and stamina to stick with the Welshman. Whoever deserved it, the scores were too wide.
Woe for Souleymane Cissokho and Curmel Moton
A couple of losers this week include France’s Souleymane Cissokho who withdrew from his eliminator against Egidijus Kavaliauskas, citing an injury. The WBC welterweight fight was set to take place in Equatorial Guinea.
Meanwhile, in Atlantic City, Floyd Mayweather’s young hope Curmel Moton (above left) weighed in 14 pounds over the contracted weight for his bout on a Danny Garcia promotion. Those final few stones can often be difficult to shift on fight week, so we can’t be too hard on him.
About Steve…
Current existence: Online editor at Boxing News Magazine.
Previous lives: Author (8 books), podcaster (500+ eps), scriptwriter for Motivedia channel, newspaper journalist, copywriter & educator.
Contact: stevenwellings1982@gmail.com