Sunny Edwards was dealt the second and final loss of his career this weekend in Birmingham at the hands of a relentless Galal Yafai.
The fight for the WBC Flyweight Interim World Title was well promoted with a focus on the family rivalry between the two, who both have brothers well known on the British boxing scene.
Edwards stepped through the ropes with experience on his side having been a world champion with four defences under his belt. He went 20 fights undefeated and largely untouched before facing pound-for-pound superstar Jesse Rodriguez and getting knocked out.
Yafai – who entered the ring with 8 wins and 6 stoppages – is the Olympic Gold Medalist who is next up in the division. He immediately went after his seventh KO, putting the pressure on Edwards from the first bell.
The former champion appeared to slow quickly. Yafai grew in confidence and punches landed. After just the second round, Edwards was stark with his trainer Chris Williams:
“Do you want me to be real, Chris? I don’t want to be here man.”
"I don't want to be here"
Astonishing 🤯🤯 #EdwardsYafaipic.twitter.com/xMl9KsEmaS
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) November 30, 2024
It was one-way traffic and an unanswered flurry from Yafai in the sixth forced the referee to step in and wave it off. Post-fight, Edwards – who was a national champion in the amateurs – announced his retirement from the sport after an entertaining career.
“If I’m perfectly, perfectly honest, win, lose draw – and my team know this – I was retiring tonight. I don’t have the same energy that I had for the sport and for the process. I’ll be perfectly real, I put so much into the first six, seven years of my career that I just needed a break.”
Edwards hangs up his gloves with a record of 21 wins from 23 bouts.
