Mike Coppinger reports that 25-year-old Sunny Edwards is looking to follow in brother Charlie’s footsteps and claim a flyweight title, taking on IBF champion Moruti Mthalane on a May 1st allegedly card in the UK. The event, co-headlined by the return of Michael Conlan, will air on BT Sport in the UK and ESPN+ in the States.
The 38-year-old Mthalane (39-2, 26 KOs) has not tasted defeat since a 2008 TKO loss to Nonito Donaire in a bid for the IBF flyweight title. He ultimately claimed the belt a decade later with a decision over Muhammad Waseem and has since defended it against a trio of Japanese challengers, most recently retiring the all-action Akira Yaegashi in appropriately violent fashion two Decembers ago.
Edwards (15-0, 4 KOs) has spent much of his career at super flyweight, dipping down to 112 in 2019 to defeat Rosendo Hugo Guarneros. He returned to 115 for his most recent efforts, which saw him beat Marcel Braithwaite for the British title and successfully defeat dangerous spoiler Thomas Essomba in his first defense.
Mthalane remains an elite fighter despite being ancient by lower-weight standards and Edwards clearly has boatloads of promise. This figures to be an excellent fight.
Conlan (14-0, 8 KOs) had previously intended to face Issac Dogboe on December 5th, only to suffer a nasty ankle injury ahead of time. TBA presently has the May assignment, though Bob Arum has mentioned wanting to re-book the Dogboe fight.
Last edited by Ruthless-RKO on 27 Apr 2021, 08:10, edited 5 times in total.
Similar worries to when Charlie Edwards fought Casimero.
Even if you’re European champ with a few defences at flyweight the jump to the non European top dogs is huge. Whereas generally an established European champ at say cruiser weight is well seasoned and set up.
I remember thinking Casimeros knockout of Edwards was badass the first knockdown the way he catches him sees him falling and the gestures to his corner before Edwards has hit the floor was a great slow mo shot.
sunny for me , a good skillfulf boxer sunny and gets better with more fights and lose some of that silly showmanship stuff aint needed or pig tails , not a given will be a real test a good test i reckon this is a fight sunny must not lose for his career, can see a points win sunny if he is switched on moving landing his shots and keeps moving
Can’t believe not only Mthalane is still fighting, but he’s a fckin champion? I remember when he fought Donaire I think that fight got stopped on cuts and he was doing pretty well at the time.
ShadrachSimmo wrote: ↑19 Mar 2021, 14:11
Can’t believe not only Mthalane is still fighting, but he’s a fckin champion? I remember when he fought Donaire I think that fight got stopped on cuts and he was doing pretty well at the time.
His resume is very impressive indeed. Beaten Zolani Tete and Casimeiro. Hardly seems to be showing worrying signs as he’s been still stopping guys in his recent fights.
ShadrachSimmo wrote: ↑19 Mar 2021, 14:11
Can’t believe not only Mthalane is still fighting, but he’s a fckin champion? I remember when he fought Donaire I think that fight got stopped on cuts and he was doing pretty well at the time.
His resume is very impressive indeed. Beaten Zolani Tete and Casimeiro. Hardly seems to be showing worrying signs as he’s been still stopping guys in his recent fights.
Yh the smaller guys show decline after 30, only a rare few still go strong.
hes a good fighter sunny skill full boxer its winnable id liked to see sunny a little more merchore more experienced and not haviing to play up for the cameras as he dont need to , i think he can win this fight
The London spotlight will shine on Belfast's Michael “Mick” Conlan and South African great Moruti Mthalane from Copper Box Arena on Friday, April 30.
Mthalane, who is undefeated since 2008, will defend his IBF flyweight world title in the main event against London native Sunny Edwards. In the co-feature, longtime featherweight contender Conlan will make his junior featherweight debut in a 12-rounder against noted spoiler Ionut Baluta.
Promoted by allegedly’s Queensberry Promotions, Mthalane-Edwards and Conlan-Baluta will stream live and exclusively in the United States on ESPN+ at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT. Undercard bouts are scheduled to begin live on ESPN+ starting at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.
“This is a big step up for Mick, as Baluta has pulled off quite a few upsets and is motivated to do so once again,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Mick is close to a world title shot, and I expect him to be at his very best April 30. I am also pleased that American fight fans will have an opportunity to watch the sensational Mthalane, who is in tough against the young Edwards.”
Conlan (14-0, 8 KOs) is back after a disappointing 2020 that started with the COVID-related cancellation of his annual St. Patrick’s Day bout in New York and ended with an ankle injury suffered while training in November. He knocked out former world title challenger Sofiane Takoucht last August and now sets his focus on the junior featherweight division. He is ranked No. 1 by the WBO and No. 8 by the WBA, and he could be in line for a world title shot with a victory over Baluta (14-2, 3 KOs), a Romanian who is used to overcoming long odds. Last March, Baluta stunned former junior featherweight world champion TJ Doheny via eight-round unanimous decision, and six months later, he knocked out Conlan’s 2016 Irish Olympic teammate Davey Oliver Joyce in the third round.
Conlan said, "I'm very excited to get back in the ring against Ionut Baluta on April 30. I know how tough of a fighter Baluta is, but I've been training hard since shortly after my last win in August and will be well prepared for victory. I'm looking forward to putting on a great show and can't wait to get back in the ring."
Mthalane, 38, won his first world title in November 2009 with a unanimous decision over Julio Cesar Miranda for the vacant IBF crown. He cemented his world-class status with successful defenses over countryman Zolani Tete (TKO 5) and current WBO bantamweight world champion John Riel Casimero (TKO 5). He reclaimed the IBF world title in July 2017 with a narrow decision win over Muhammad Waseem and has since defeated a trio of Japanese challengers: Masahiro Sakamoto (TKO 10), Masayuki Kuroda (UD) and Akira Yaegashi (TKO 9).
Edwards (15-0, 4 KOs) has fought his last two bouts at junior bantamweight, but he returns to flyweight for a crack at one of boxing’s most celebrated champions. He last fought at flyweight in September 2019, dominating Rosendo Hugo Guarneros to win the vacant IBF International and WBO Intercontinental straps.
"Moruti is the most criminally underrated fighter, having not lost in 13 years, and he is a proper, proper threat," Edwards said. "This is no gimme or easy world title fight — it is very, very far from that. I asked for this fight and, if you look back at press conferences or interviews, you can see that I have wanted it for some time. In my head, this is what was coming to me and it is finally here, and I have got what I wanted.”
Press Release | Troy Williamson vs. Kieran Smith Added To Card
UNBEATEN SUPER WELTERWEIGHTS Troy Williamson and Kieran Smith will fight in a final eliminator for a shot at the British title on April 30, live on BT Sport.
The 15-0-1 'Trojan' from Darlington moved into title-winning mode in December 2019 when he defeated Dario Socco via a 10th round stoppage to clinch the IBF European title and he defended his belt in August of last year with a close-run points decision over Harry Scarff.
Smith, 16-0, from Greenrigg in Scotland, is holder of the WBC International Silver title, which he won in November 2018 against Evaldas Korsakas and has subsequently defended on two occasions. His most recent bout came in November 2019 when he defeated the then 16-0 Vincenzo Bevilacqua over ten rounds in Glasgow.
Both fighters have been determined to make an impact at domestic level, with the British title currently held by Ted Cheeseman, who overcame JJ Metcalf in a mandatory defence last Saturday.
The pair will collide on the undercard of Sunny Edwards challenging for the IBF world flyweight title against the champion Moruti Mthalane, with Michael Conlan taking on Ionut Baluta in his opening gambit at super bantamweight.
Troy Williamson said: "It is a good fight and he is a good fighter. It is one I am taking very seriously and I can't wait to get the ball rolling.
"It is a big fight, with a lot at stake being a final eliminator for the British, and there is a bit of beef behind it because I beat him as an amateur back in 2015. It was in the Tri-Nations semi-final and it was a close-ish fight so there is a bit of history there.
"I've not seen much of his pro career but I know he is ranked above me in the Boxrec ratings and I respect him as a fighter. I agree with him that he has been avoided but I also think I am myself.
"This will be just the start and where I will announce myself on the big stage."
Kieran Smith said: "I am very excited to be back out in a big fight, and on a big show on BT Sport. The last 18 months has been frustrating for me as it has been for many, but I'm here now and ready to kick on.
"It's a shame we can't get fans in for this one but I'm used to fighting in empty halls as it's what we all did as amateurs on national teams all over the world.
"With this being a final eliminator for the British title, the plan is to win this and then push on for that belt. The super-welterweight division is thriving at the moment and there are so many big domestic fights.
"It's just one step at a time though, my full focus is on beating Troy."
Nice to see Mthalane is leaving Japanese guys alone after stopping Sakamoto and Yaegashi and taking a wide decision over Kuroda.
Always wonder when father time will catch up with him, and I though it had when Waseem had all over the place late, but he's been very good since then. Massive step up for Edward's, could be right place, right time... Or a painful, one sided pummeling for him.
Still shocks me that British promoters for guys at 108/112/115/118 don't often bring over decent Japanese, Filipino and Thai guys to test their prospects against. Likewise I'm shocked that the top Brits historically haven't been flying over and training at things like the Ohashi Gym, Teiken and Watanabe gym. Top level sparring is needed and it's not available here... (obviously covid has prevented that since last year, but it's not typically been done before then either)
