An intense and balanced clash was expected, but what unfolded was a one-sided domination. The fight for the Interim WBC Flyweight title, held last night at Birmingham’s Resorts World Arena, ended after six rounds in favor of Galal Yafai, who overwhelmed an unrecognizable Sunny Edwards. Following the painful defeat, the 28-year-old announced his retirement from professional boxing.
Before the fight, we noted that the boxers would need to impose their own game plans to win, but no one could have predicted that the fight would play entirely to Yafai’s strengths from start to finish. From the first bell, the former Olympic gold medalist launched himself at his opponent, engaging in a fierce close-range battle filled with hard exchanges.
While Yafai’s intention to turn the match into a brawl was expected, Edwards’ approach was far more surprising. Instead of relying on his trademark mobility to disorient his rival, he stood still, exposing his lack of power and physicality in stark contrast.
The bewilderment among Edwards’ fans likely peaked when, at the end of the second round, he returned to his corner and was caught on camera saying, “I’m going to be real, I don’t want to be here.” It was an extraordinary statement that suggested complete resignation from the English boxer.
Galal Yafai, unsurprisingly, showed no mercy for his hesitant rival and continued his relentless assault. Although his punches weren’t always delivered with precision and his defense wasn’t impenetrable, against an utterly ineffective Edwards, Yafai’s chaotic and relentless aggression made him look unstoppable.
From the fourth round onwards, Sunny Edwards, increasingly glued to the ropes, began losing coordination and sharpness in his counterattacks. “Showtime” reacted a beat too late, often missing and leaving himself off-balance, only to endure more of Yafai’s pressing.
By the sixth round, with Edwards offering no resistance and resorting to passive defense for extended periods, referee Lee Every compassionately stopped the fight, declaring a technical KO. Though Yafai hadn’t landed any particularly devastating punches in the closing moments, the fight had become so one-sided that the referee’s decision felt justified.
There are two possible interpretations of what unfolded in the ring at Birmingham’s Resorts World Arena. On one hand, one could argue that Sunny Edwards’ loss to Jesse Rodriguez broke something in the English boxer’s psyche, spirit, and body. That night, “Showtime” gave everything he had, holding his own for several rounds against an elite opponent, but he absorbed a lot of punishment. It’s plausible that this defeat drained him of the motivation needed to prepare at his best.
On the other hand, boxing enthusiasts may recall the famous remark made by HBO journalist Larry Merchant when Donovan Ruddock, contrary to bookmakers’ expectations, was obliterated in two rounds by Lennox Lewis in 1992: “I told you I don’t trust a fighter who makes his name off of his losses!” Ruddock’s reputation largely stemmed from two respectable defeats against Mike Tyson, leading many to overrate him simply because he wasn’t quickly destroyed by Iron Mike.
What does this anecdote have to do with Sunny Edwards? Before his thrilling fight with Rodriguez, Edwards had numerous victories against solid opponents but had never been truly tested by a world-class champion. Perhaps his valiant resistance against “Bam” led many, including myself, to slightly overestimate his actual abilities.
The truth likely lies somewhere in between: the explosive physicality, frantic pace, and competitive ferocity of Galal Yafai would have posed a significant challenge to any version of Sunny Edwards. Yet, the Edwards who entered the ring last night seemed like a shadow of his former self. We can only wish him the best for the future: given his eloquence, insight, humor, and deep understanding of boxing, he seems well-equipped to carve out a brilliant career in the sport outside the ring.
As for Galal Yafai, he’s written a crucial chapter in his boxing story and appears ready to take on even greater challenges. A matchup against WBC world champion Kenshiro Teraji could be on the horizon—a chance that would undoubtedly be well-deserved.