Sunny Edwards vs. Galal Yafai summary online, round by round, stats and highlights

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What a career!

All the best to Sunny Edwards, whatever his next steps are.

"I put a lot into the first six or seven years of my career and I don't have that love for boxing anymore."

Retired!

What a bombshell! Sonny Edwards tells the crowd that he is retired.

"My team knew this: win, lose or draw, I'm retiring after this. I don't have the same energy that I had for the process, if I'm perfectly real."

That is to take nothing away from Galal Yafai. His performance was superb. He looked like his older brother Cal, and he certainly showed that he belongs here. At just 9-0 as a professional, his long amateur and Olympic career has shown that he is a world level boxer and deserves a shot at the full world title.

There will be much discussion over the coming days as to what went wrong. Sunny Edwards had no appetite for the fight, saying as much himself to his corner. Did he leave it all in the gym? Did he miscalculate his camp? Or is he finished at this level? Did Bam Rodriguez take it out of him?

AND THE NEW: Galal Yafai becomes the WBC Flyweight interim champion

That was a hard fought TKO by Galal Yafai and he had Sunny Edwards completely on the back foot from the opening bell.

What a statement from Galal Yafai! He is now the interim champion and is well on his way. He bullied a former world champion and that, no matter who you are, is no mean feat!

Galal Yafai wins by TKO

Yafai runs out to meet Sunny and lands a heavy left and Sunny is wobbled! He is desperate and leaning on the ropes! Yafai is tapping away and the referee has a good look and decides to step in with nothing coming back from Sunny Edwards! That is it! Galal Yafai wins!

Sunny comes out a bit sharper and lands a nice left hand but Yafai is in his face and takiing all of the shots thrown very well.

Sunny is having trouble breathing here, gulping in big mouthfuls. He looks to be resigned to his fate, fighting only to stay alive, not to win the fight.

Yafai lands a huge left hand and Sunny is back on the ropes again! He is in trouble again and manages to throw a counter punch that throws Yafai to the floor! It is ruled a slip but the doctor is called in to have a look at Yafai's ear. Something happened there but it is not clear what.

Astonishing!

This was after round two. Sunny Edwards to his corner: "If I'm honest, I don't want to be here, mate."

Yafai comes forward and Sunny's counter punches are now working better, landing on Yafai and giving him something to think about.

Yafai lands a short uppercut and is still winning this round, but Sunny is staying in the bout with counter punches. He gets pushed back onto the ropes and into the corner but simply doesn't have the wind or the nous to be able to come back with any sort of vengeance at a stationary Yafai.

Sunny's corner is screaming at him, trying to get him snapped out of this stupor that he seems to be in. Yafai pushes him onto the ropes and that is bad news for Sunny. Yafai has had great success on the ropes and Sunny needs to get his feet working. Yafai is relentless with his attack!

This looks nothing like the Sunny Edwards of old. He looks like he is finished. Maybe that stoppage by Bam Rodriguez took more out of him than we thought!

Yafai is clean, sharp, and just pounding his way forward, having his way with Sunny.

Yafai comes out quickly, not as frantic as the first round but staying on the front foot. Sunny has a bit of breathing room here and tries to time up a left hand but gets spun with a counter right from Yafai. Great shot!

A short right uppercut from Yafai lands solidly and Sunny is backpedalling his way out of there. He is in trouble here!

A flurry of tippy tappy shots from Yafai keep Sunny off balance and when he tries to get his feet under him, a lethal right hand from Yafai snaps him to the defensive again.

Galal Yafai comes out all guns blazing, throwing from all angles and Sunny is straight onto the defensive. The former IBF world champ won't go down easily but he is unsteady here in the opening minute, switching from orthodox to southpaw and ducking for his life. His feet are too stationary and Yafai is all over him!

Sunny is looking for space to work and Yafai is giving not one inch. As the round enters the final minute, Sunny finds a clean uppercut and Yafai has to pump the brakes as the round ends.

Sunny Edwards vs. Galal Yafai [WBC Flyweight]

The main event is now here! Sunny Edwards and Galal Yafai will vie for the WBC Flyweight interim world title. The winner will set themselves up for a shot at the full title, in the hands of Kenshiro Teraji.

Conah Walker gets the decision

Great show by Walker!

Conah Walker wins by UD

The judges at ringside saw it as:

98-93

97-93

97-93

all for Conah Walker and that is the right result there.

That looked like Walker won nearly every round. That final round perhaps went Ritson's way but it would be one of the few if it did. But what heart by these two warriors!

The final round and Walker ups the work rate considerably now. He is going for the stoppage here and the referee is in close, have a hard look at this. Ritson lashes out with single shots, just enough to say, "Hey, I'm still here!"

Ritson lands a pair of heavy right hand uppercuts that snap Walker's head back! Those were fantastic shots!

Now it is the turn of Walker to hold on and Ritson chops with a left hook that stumbles Walker. He is in trouble here!

Walker is so far out in front but if Ritson has any more gas in the tank he can upset the apple cart here!

But it was not to be, Ritson simply couldn't find any extra to jump on that late advantage.

Walker is leaning on Ritson, but the wily old campaigner is slapping that jab out, pushing back at Walker and backpedalling his way onto the ropes. Walker pushes forward and lands a nice one-two and Ritson is in a bit of trouble here. Again, the referee has a close look but yet again, Ritson strikes out with a jab that pushes Walker back and keeps the fight on.

Ritson stays covered and takes some big shots at the start of the round, but manages to turn Walker and land a couple of hooks that really could have been a game changer a couple of years ago.

Walker and Ritson are toe-to-toe, trading punches in the corner now. Walker’s got the upper hand, digging in with brutal hooks, but Ritson’s too slick, too slippery, dancing just out of reach.

Walker tries to catch him with that left hook, the one he’s been setting up all night, but Ritson’s been reading him, anticipating the move before it even leaves Walker’s glove. He steps to the side, making sure no real damage comes his way. Walker’s frustration builds, but Ritson’s got the patience of a man who knows the fight’s far from over.

Ritson is looking now like a man who just wants to weather the storm. He is experienced enough to know that his second wind will come. But he has to bide his time.

Walker is going hell for leather, the arrogance of youth on his side. But even he is beginning to slow and the round grinds down into first gear. Walker lets Ritson breathe and as the round winds down, Walker steps in for the attack, whiffing and landing on the gloves.

The referee steps in close as Walker starts to unload. The blows are landing, thudding against Ritson’s guard, but the Geordie’s not answering back. Not a single punch. A hush falls over the crowd, and you can feel the tension thick in the air, like something’s about to snap. Then, Ritson, that old fox from Newcastle, flicks out a jab - just one, but it’s firm, clean, and it’s enough.

Walker comes out at the start of the round and capitalizes on the sluggishness of Ritson, landing a heavy right hand in the opening seconds. A little feint and then bam!

For a second, it looks like Ritson might fold under the pressure, but then he finds something - his hands start moving. A four-punch combo, sharp and clean, and at least two of those shots land flush. It’s the best he’s looked all night, maybe the best he’s looked in the whole damn fight. But Walker doesn’t hesitate, doesn’t give him a chance to breathe. He steps in fast, throws a flurry, and Ritson’s on the ropes, just trying to survive. It’s a game of inches now, and Walker’s not letting him get a single one.

Wallker is staying on top of Ritson and while the Newcastle man is clearly of quality, he is being ground down bit by bit by the younger Walker. But it isn'nt just age that divides these two. As they say, it's not the years, it's the miles.

Ritson’s not throwing punches like he used to. The aggression that once had fans on their feet now feels like a ghost, fading into the backdrop of a fighter who's trying to adjust. You can see it in the way he moves - slower, more cautious. Walker, on the other hand, he’s relentless, pushing the pace, hands flying like he’s got something to prove. Ritson? He’s hunting for counters, waiting for the perfect shot, but it’s not coming easy. It’s like watching a dog that’s lost its bite - still dangerous, but no longer the same threat it once was. The crowd can feel it, too. The energy’s different.

Ritson stays tight and in the fight. Walker is outgunning him in the start of the fight here, but he is not overmatched just yet. Ritson comes back with a nice compact left hook that just misses the target, but you can see flashes of the fighter that he once was in his performance.

The crowd rises, a wave of noise swelling through the air as Walker charges at Ritson. He’s fast, all sharp angles and brute force, throwing punches like a man trying to shake the devil off his back. Ritson’s pressed into the ropes, his arms up, covering his head, but there’s nowhere to go. Walker’s fists thud into the gloves and the shoulders, landing nothing that’ll leave a mark, but the crowd doesn’t care. It’s all they need - just the sight of their man in full attack, even if the punches don't count for much.

Walker stays on the gas pedal, keeping that work rate high. Walker drives a right hand into Ritson’s ribs, the kind of punch that feels like a gravel truck hitting you in the chest. Ritson flinches, tries to cover up, but Walker’s quick, throwing a one-two. The jab gets blocked, but that uppercut comes up the middle like a snake striking. It cracks through the guard. Ritson’s reaction’s slow, his eyes wide, but he swings back, wild and desperate. Left hook’s way off target. Walker’s already back on him, stepping in, looking to punish the body again. This time it’s a left hook, sharp and clean, aimed right for the ribs. Ritson’s still recovering, hands low. The fight's already starting to mark him.

The fight starts scrappy with both men trying to stamp their authority on the ring. Walker is the busier of the two and while Ritson is clever, the question is how much he has left in him after a string of losses.

Walker digs a right hand to the body, just as the round's winding down, and you can see it bothers Ritson, knocks the wind out of him for a second. He stumbles back, but Walker’s not giving him room to breathe. A quick left hook snaps Ritson's head back, then a brutal overhand right crashes in right as the clock ticks down. Ritson, showing his grit, fires back with his own right hand just as the bell rings.

Conah Walker (13-3-1) vs. Lewis Ritson (23-4) [Welterweight]

Now we have a welterweight contest between Conah Walker and Lewis Ritson. Walker has a huge following in the audience and both men are well experienced and coming off losses, each of them looking to get their career back on track tonight. This is scheduled to go ten rounds.

New Commonwealth champ

A close battle

AND THE NEW: Kieron Conway wins by SD

The judges at ringside saw it as:

116-112 Conway

115-114 Kelly

115-113 Conway

and Kieron Conway is the new Commonwealth Middleweight champion!

That was a great tussle and my feeling is that Conway has done enough to win this bout. Again, I did not actually score it myself but my feeling is that Conway took the middle section after giving up the first three or four rounds to Kelly. It will be close but I feel like it will be just enough in Conway's direction.

The final round now and this is a close battle. With those last two rounds in the bag, either man can still come away with the win, depending on what they do now.

Conway comes in with a powerful dig to the body that has Kelly sucking on air, but Conway doesn't have enough to make Kelly pay dearly for it. They reset and Kelly comes back with a check left that stops Conway in his tracks.

Conway lands a lovely eye catching left hook and Kelly stumbles back, exhausted. The final seconds see Kelly dive in for one last attempt but Conway hands him a hard right hand to stop his ambitions.

Both fighters are still looking puffed, leaning heavily on each other and to be fair to them, why not? They have been at war for nearly half an hour and are both feeling the sting of these heavy shots.

Conway lands a nice three punch combo, but eats a short right hand on the way out for his trouble.

The fight slows as if both men are in need of a breather. There are some great individual punches and counter punches from both men, but overall the tenth round is very much a round off for both fighters.

A solid short right hand from Kelly lands flush but it is more of an arm shot and Conway gets onto his toes, staying on the move and getting out of range.

Conway needs to stay in the center of the ring and he manages to get Kelly tied up, throwing short uppercuts in the clinch.

Conway throws everything into that round and is flustering Kelly here. Some nice shots from Kelly but he is too slow to get out of the way of what is coming back at him. Conway stays in close and lands a beauty of a left hook, following it with a right uppercut that gives Kelly something to think about. Conway is stepping up his attack now.

Conway's workrate is upped significantly here, building on an impressive outing in the sixth. Kelly is looking pretty sapped here, and Conway is landing that jab down on Kelly, setting up that right hand. When he opens up, Conway looks good, landing solid shots.

Part of that success is due to Kelly slowing down here and that breathing is really bothering him now.

Kelly is looking busy, working the jab and sticking it to the chest of Conway. But he looks to be having trouble with his nose, breathing difficult and with his mouth open. Kelly backs up in straight lines, allowing Conway to get onto him and land a great left hook to the ribs at the bell.

The fight’s playing out at a distance, like two men circling, testing each other’s nerves. Conway’s got that jab working, sharp and steady, flicking it out like he's measuring Kelly for something bigger, something more telling. Kelly’s trying to close the gap, desperate to get in close where he can use that right hand of his. He’s all fire, trying to get in there and land a hard shot, but Conway’s keeping him at arm’s length, not letting him settle. It’s a game of inches, neither one giving much, both of them biding their time, looking for the opening that might never come.

Conway's built like a brick outhouse, but he ain't using that size to his advantage. Instead, he's staying on the outside, throwing a cautious jab, looking for an opening to land something heavy. When he does throw that right hand, it finds its mark, but it's a single shot, and that's it. Kelly, on the other hand, is a blur in the ring - he's moving, he's busy, staying in Conway's face, landing more punches.

Great shots!

This is a beautiful ballet, in gloved fists.

Conway steps in close, a right uppercut followed by a left hook that pushes Kelly back, taking control of the center of the ring. He’s on the front foot now, pressing the attack, a storm of punches coming at Kelly - four shots in rapid succession. Only a couple land clean, the rest get blocked, but the shift in momentum is undeniable. Conway’s got the edge, and Kelly, for a split second, looks like he needs a breather. Conway doesn’t give him one - another sharp left hook cracks through as the 10-second buzzer sounds. The round’s his, no doubt about it.

The second round started with both men throwing left hands like they were trying to settle old scores. Conway, looking for an opening, tried a counter with a right uppercut, but it sailed just wide, like a bad memory slipping away. Kelly, calm as ever, landed a couple of left hooks, one digging into the ribs, the other catching Conway in the head. Each punch had the weight of intent behind it, a little warning shot in a fight that was about to get real.

Kelly comes out strong, pushing forward, while Conway hangs back, flicking his jab like a man testing deep water. Kelly's got his eye on countering, looking to thread a straight right past the jab, but Conway’s quick - pulling his left back just in time. Not much lands, just the tension of two fighters feeling each other out.

Kieron Conway (21-3-1) vs. Ryan Kelly (19-4-1) [Commonwealth Middle]

Now we have a contest for the vacant Commonwealth Middleweight title between two local fighters, Kieron Conway and Ryan Kelly. This bout is scheduled for 12 rounds.

Cameron Vuong wins by UD

The judges at ringside scored it:

97-94

96-95

96-94

all three for Cameron Vuong! That feels wrong to me and the audience in attendance agrees, booing the decision roundly.

I didn't score each round, but my gut reaction is that Gavin Gwynne took the middle rounds, losing the first couple and definitely that last one. I feel like Gwynne should get the decision.

But my feelings are nothing, the only thing that matters is the judges' scorecards.

The final round and Vuong will likely need at least a knockdown to win this. Gwynne has just upped the gears through these final rounds and has pickpocketed rounds from Vuong, setting a blistering pace.

Vuong is back to working on the back foot, backpedalling and clipping counter shots at Gwynne. He is doing well here, but this is not a round to simply win. Vuong needs to make a statement.

Gwynne looks like he has found a second wind and pounds his way forward. They stand toe to toe in the final minute and Vuong lands a solid right hand that rocks Gwynne's peaches! He doesn't go down though and that may be the deciding factor in this fight.

Gwynne stays on top of Vuong and pushes him onto the ropes. This is a round that Vuong needs to win desperately and he is perhaps feeling this more than he lets on. Vuong shakes his left hand after each shot, indicating that there might be something not right there.

Gwynne is a machine! He just keeps marching forward, with his eye bleeding profusely, refusing to take a step backwards.

Vuong is still sending in single shots but Gwynne is just pushing him to his limit.

Vuong is having trouble keeping up with this assault and while he is throwing the cleaner single shots, the nicer counter punches, he is being outworked to an incredible degree by Gwynne. This is style versus strength, youth versus experience, and push versus shove. Gwynne is keeping Vuong off balance and not letting him rest, and is pulling away with the bout.

This is a fairly even bout, despite Vuong looking sharper in his punches. Gwynne has been working harder, pushing forward, and bullying Vuong through the fight and is slowly ticking off the rounds. This is a nice lesson for Vuong, that just because you are quicker, just because you have the sharper punches, you can still be outworked by a fighter who does it in an old fashioned punch-up. Great work from Gwynne.

The plan was to force Vuong to work hard and see if he can last the full fight with you and it looks like that plan is coming good.

Vuong is taking a lot of punishment from Gwynne and even though the nicer shots look to be coming from Vuong, he is feeling this one. Gwynne is grinding away and pushing the young fighter to the edge of what he is able to take.

Gwynne is doing well, landing shots and staying busy. He needs to throw his hands more and not give Vuong a chance to counter.

The referee clarified in between rounds that the cut on Gwynne's eye was caused by a punch, not a head clash.

Vuong is standing his ground more now and pushing back on Gwynne as the fight moves to an inside piece of work. Gwynne is staying busy, but now is getting caught with everything that Vuong can throw.

Vuong now is less keen to backpedal, holding his ground more and hoping that Gwynne will have used far more energy than him in the opening of the bout. There is an accidental head clash and a small cut opens up on Gwynne's left eye.

Vuong switches stances, working southpaw now. He is still looking for that counter and finding all sorts of angles to get his shots away. Gwynne has slowed a bit and is getting caught more and more.

Gwynne needs to start throwing multiple punches rather than just bullying his way in and getting off single shots. Vuong is able to counter those effectively and is able to outscore Gwynne in many instances.

Gwynne is keeping the pressure on, pushing Vuong around the ring and keeping on top of him. Vuong is looking slick, able to counter and get out of the best part of Gwynne's attack, but this pressure is a sign of the Welshman betting that Vuong will gas out as the fight goes on.

So far, there is no sign of that, but if Gwynne can keep this up for another eight rounds, that could all change.

Both fighters come out cagey, working orthodox and knowing that their opponent is a dangerous man. Vuong looks sharp as he jabs and then moves away, working on the back foot and drawing Gwynne forward.

As the round draws to a close, Gwynne is able to put some pressure onto Vuong, testing his engine early.

Cameron Voung (6-0) vs. Gavin Gwynne (17-3-1) [Lightweight]

We now move on to a lightweight contest as Cameron Voung takes on Gavin Gwynne in a ten round contest.

Nice start from Uddin

His career is off to a good start.

Hamza Uddin wins by UD

Hamza Uddin moves to 3-0 with a 59-56 decision win, surrendering one round to Benn Norman in that bout.

The final round here and Uddin ups his work rate, trying to make an emphatic statement in his third professional bout. He has been levels above Norman, but has allowed him back into the fight over the last couple of rounds, mainly through inactivity.

Norman stays steady, plodding his way in and when Uddin is on his toes it is not even close. Over a longer bout, perhaps Norman could have worn Uddin down a bit more, but as this fight comes to a close, it looks like a whitewash.

Another solid round from Norman, although yet again he is having trouble landing anything heavy on Uddin. The sharp counter punches have come from him and caught Norman off guard at times.

Norman is working his way into a groove and is able to avoid most of the spiteful shots coming his way, although a right hand gets through at the bell.

Norman is more active and getting in close this round, a much better round from him, but is still having trouble finding anything that can worry Uddin. He is able to get in close and tap away with short jabs but not able to get any shot at distance anywhere near his mark.

Uddin dances and keeps the pace high, landing quick shots from outside.

More straight lines from Norman lead to Uddin landing a thudding right hand over that jab. This is looking to be a glorified sparring session for Uddin and unless Norman can get something together soon, he is going to get swept here. If he survives the full six rounds that is.

Uddin tries to bully Norman and now is caught in turn by a couple of nice shots from Norman. That is better.

Uddin comes out looking for a right hand over the ponderous jab of Norman. He is leaving his hands down low to his sides as he comes in and could be open to a counter punch from Norman. A sharp check left would leave Uddin in a world of hurt.

So far, however, Uddin is more than match enough for the slow hand speed of his opponent. He is able to get in and out nicely before anything gets saucy.

Uddin comes out quick and Norman is backing up in straight lines, he needs to be careful there!

This is good work from the local man, he looks very sharp and as the round wears on, he grows in confidence, landing a nice right hand following that quick uppercut.

Hamza Uddin (2-0) vs. Benn Norman (7-5) [Flyweight]

We kick things off tonight with a six-round flyweight contest between local man Hamza Uddin and Leicester, England's Benn Norman.

The Main Card

The preliminaries are all done and we are ready for the main card!

Preliminary results

Callum Smith (29-2) vs. Carlos Galvan (20-24-2) [Light Heavy]
Smith dusted off the ring rust tonight, picking up his 30th career win with a fifth-round stoppage of Carlos Galvan. The Colombian hit the canvas once in the fourth and twice more in the fifth, leaving no doubt that Smith is back on track after a tough year for the 34-year-old former super-middleweight champ.

Taylor Bevan (debut) vs. Greg O'Neill (7-8-1) [Super Middle]
Taylor Bevan made a hell of a start. The Welsh silver medalist from the 2022 Commonwealth Games stepped into the pro ranks like he belonged, taking apart Greg O’Neill - a veteran who’s shared the ring with names like Ben Whittaker and Felix Cash. Calm and sharp, Bevan dropped the Sunderland man twice before finishing it at 2:40 of the second round. At 23, he’s already looking like the real deal.

Ibraheem Sulaimaan (5-0) vs. Marvin Solano (24-20) [Super Feather]
Ibraheem "Spider" Sulaimaan (6-0) made quick work of Marvin Solano (24-20) in a super featherweight clash. The former amateur champ delivered a savage body shot in round two, dropping Solano and keeping his undefeated streak alive.

Aaron Bowen (3-0) vs. James Todd (4-2-2) [Middle]
Aaron Bowen hit the canvas in round two, but that didn’t keep him there. The kid dug deep, clawed his way back, and in round five, he folded James Todd with a ruthless shot to the body. A comeback KO, gritty and unforgettable.

Troy Jones (11-0) vs. Michael Stephenson (9-2) [English Light Heavy]
Troy Jones held onto his English Light Heavyweight Title with a hard-fought win over Michael Stephenson. The judges had it 98-91, 98-91, and 97-93. It was scrappy, not much clean work from either man, but Jones’ gas tank and sharp right hand made the difference.

The Full Card

Main Card
Sunny Edwards vs. Galal Yafai [WBC Flyweight]
Kieron Conway (21-3-1) vs. Ryan Kelly (19-4-1) [Commonwealth Middle]
Cameron Young (6-0) vs. Gavin Gwynne (17-3-1) [Lightweight]
Conah Walker (13-3-1) vs. Lewis Ritson (23-4) [Welterweight]

Preliminary Card
Troy Jones (11-0) vs. Michael Stephenson (9-2) [English Light Heavy]
Callum Smith (29-2) vs. Carlos Galvan (20-24-2) [Light Heavy]
Hamza Uddin (2-0) vs. Benn Norman (7-5) [Flyweight]
Aaron Bowen (3-0) vs. James Todd (4-2-2) [Middle]
Ibraheem Sulaimaan (5-0) vs. Marvin Solano (24-20) [Super Feather]
Taylor Bevan (debut) vs. Greg O'Neill (7-8-1) [Super Middle]

The main undercard is set to get underway at 2pm ET / 11am PT.

Tale of the tape

Sunny Edwards
Age: 28
Country: United Kingdom
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 5ft 3in
Reach: 60”
Record: 21-1-0

Galal Yafai
Age: 31
Country: United Kingdom
Stance: Southpaw
Height: 5ft 4in
Reach: 60”
Record: 8-0-0

WELCOME!!!

Welcome to Diario AS USA’s live coverage of the WBC Flyweight interim title bout between longtime stablemates Sunny Edwards and Galal Yafai from Birmingham, England.

This clash between Sunny Edwards and Galal Yafai is set to electrify Birmingham’s Resorts World Arena. Both fighters will step into the ring to vie for the interim WBC flyweight title, promising a night of high-stakes action with technical brilliance on full display.

This matchup is steeped in history and drama. Edwards, a former IBF flyweight champion with a record of 21-1 (4 KOs), carries extensive experience and ring IQ. He rebounded impressively in June after a tough loss to Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez, earning a victory over Adrian Curiel. Across the ring, Yafai, an undefeated powerhouse at 8-0 (6 KOs), brings his Olympic gold medal credentials and a rapid ascent through the pro ranks. The pair have a simmering rivalry, dating back to shared amateur bouts and numerous sparring sessions during their Team GB days.

Despite their familiarity, the stakes have never been higher. Edwards, known for his slick defensive skills and high output, has often referred to his past frustrations with the amateur system, where he felt overlooked in favor of Yafai. On the other side, Yafai enters with the support of his mentor, Rob McCracken, the man who guided him to Olympic glory and now looks to take him to the pinnacle of the professional game.

The narrative extends beyond the two men. Their families have a history of rivalry in boxing. Edwards’ older brother, Charlie, and Yafai’s brothers, Kal and Gamal, are all accomplished fighters, adding another layer of tension to the bout. Edwards has embraced this dynamic, saying the family rivalry adds authenticity to the storyline.

As for their styles, expect a contrast that could make this a classic. Edwards thrives on precision, movement, and stamina over 12 rounds, while Yafai’s aggressive, high-pressure approach is tailor-made for fireworks. The fight is scheduled for 12 rounds, with the winner likely earning a shot at Kenshiro Teraji, the reigning WBC flyweight champion.

All signs point to an explosive night in Birmingham, in what could be a defining moment for both fighters’ careers.

The undercard also features intriguing bouts, including a welterweight clash between Conah Walker and Lewis Ritson and a Commonwealth title fight at middleweight between Kieron Conway and Ryan Kelly.