Sunny Edwards vs Galal Yafai

Chris

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Yafai destroyed Edwards in Birmingham (Image credit – Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing)

Yafai destroyed Edwards in Birmingham (Image credit – Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing)Yafai destroyed Edwards in Birmingham (Image credit – Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing)
Yafai destroyed Edwards in Birmingham (Image credit – Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing)

Galal Yafai claimed the vacant interim WBC flyweight title and ended the career of Sunny Edwards with a sixth-round stoppage win at Resorts World in Birmingham.

2020 Olympic gold medalist Yafai (9-0, 7 KOs) was knocked out twice in 2024, stopping Agustin Gauto in the round of 16 in April before warming up for Edwards in September when he stopped Sergio Oroczo Oliva in the third round .

Former world champion Edwards (21-2, 4 KOs) was last eliminated in June when he won a major technical decision win over Adrian Curiel, and that preceded the loss of his IBF belt Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez.

Yafai put pressure on Edwards from the start and in the opening round he hit Edwards with a right hand.

Yafai didn't give his opponent a moment's peace, ambushing his rival with constant pressure and striking, and in the fourth round it was absolutely one-way traffic and the end was certainly not long in coming.

Yafai proved to be far too much for Edwards (Image credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing)
Yafai proved to be far too much for Edwards (Image credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing)

This conclusion came in the sixth round when Yafai pinned his man in the corner and he fired mercilessly with both hands. The referee was at Edwards' mercy and waved it off.

Edwards announced his resignation in the post-game interviews.

Smith returns, Walker bullies Ritson and Vuong comes through

Callum Smith (30-2, 22 KOs) successfully returned to action after his loss to Artur Beterbiev, stopping Carlos Galvan (20-15-2, 19 KOs) in the fifth round of their light heavyweight bout with the visiting guest down three times.

Smith returned to winning ways in Birmingham (Image credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing)Smith returned to winning ways in Birmingham (Image credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing)
Smith returned to winning ways in Birmingham (Image credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing)

The vacant Commonwealth middleweight title went to Kieron Conway (22-3-1, 6 KOs) as he earned a split decision win over Ryan Kelly (19-5-1, 8 KOs). One judge had Kelly winning 115-114, but the remaining judges had Conway ahead 116-112 and 115-113.

Conah Walker (14-3-1, 5 KOs) was a handy winner over Lewis Ritson (23-5, 13 KOs) over ten rounds in a welterweight bout. Walker scored two goals at 97-93 and a third at 98-93.

Cameron Vuong (7-0, 3 KOs) moved up in class and picked up a ten-round points win over former British, Commonwealth and European champion Gavin Gwynne (17-4-1, 5 KOs). Gwynne ended up with a cut to both eyes and Vuong emerged victorious 97-94, 96-94 and 96-95.

More undercard recap

Troy Jones (12-0, 6 KOs) defended his English title with a points win against Michael Stephenson (9-3, 0 KOs). James was a clear winner on two maps, 98-91, and on a third map he was ahead 97-93, despite having a point deducted in round five for a shoulder injury.

Hamza Uddin (3-0, 1 KOs) won at flyweight 59-56 against Benn Norman (7-6, 0 KOs) and Aaron Bowen (4-0, 2 KOs) beat James Todd (4-4-2, 0 KOs) with a body shot in the fifth round of their middleweight contest.

At super featherweight, Ibraheem Sulaimaan (6-0, 4 KOs) was another bodyshot winner, this time in round two against Marvin Solano (24-21, 8 KOs). Super middleweight debutant Taylor Bevan (1-0, 1 KO) stopped Greg O'Neill (7-9-1, 1 KO), also in two rounds.


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