SUNNY EDWARDS is the new IBF flyweight world champion after outclassing South Africa’s Moruti Mthalane .
The Brit was brilliant as he won by unanimous decision 118-111, 120-108, 115-113.
Meanwhile on the undercard Kieran Smith required oxygen after a brutal KO from Troy Williamson.
And Michael Conlan was given a big scare by Ionut Baluta but came through on points.
Full results
- Sunny Edwards beat Moruti Mthalane
- Michael Conlan beat Ionut Baluta
- Troy Williamson beat Kieran Smith
- Ryan Garner beat Jordan Ellison
- Joshua Frankham beat Naheem Ali
EDWARDS’ PROMOTER FRANK WARREN SPEAKS
‘It was a masterclass, the art of boxing, hitting and not being hit.
One of the best performances I’ve seen by a British boxer in years.
He’s the No1 flyweight in the world. We have the No1 heavyweight and No1 flyweight, how about that?
If Floyd [Mayweather] was watching that he would have been impressed, absolute masterclass.
My concern was that he would start trading with him, he could either make it a hard fight or an easy fight, and he made it easy.’
SUNNY EDWARDS SPEAKS
Nothing less than i expected, I been saying it all the way through.
We were friends before, hopefully we still are.
I knew it would be hard, he was very good at closing the gaps down, if I’m honest I had it 7-5, 8-4.
120-108 wasn’t fair, I deserved to win, their corner knew it.
It might not be pretty all the time, but I am very hard to beat.
I hit them hard enough to keep off but my god my legs after that sixth round were tired like they never been before.
Grant (coach) kept reminding me my kids name, that’s when you know it isn’t going the best.
His sharpness fell in the last three rounds. When i started letting the hands through that’s when I scored.
I weren’t worried, I’ve never ever been stopped, I’ve only put down two times, getting stopped isn’t in my thought process and hopefully it never will be.
He made my ears ‘ding’ a couple of times, he must have something wrong with his hands because those gloves were bouncing off like pillows.”
STUNNING SUNNY
BT Sport pundits for the night Joe Joyce and Callum Johnson are stunned with a beautiful performance from Edwards.
Mthalane never once looked like he could KO Edwards.
You can’t hit what you can’t catch.
SUNNY EDWARDS WINS! NEW WORLD CHAMP!
The judges give it 118-111, 120-108, 115-113 to the Brit and Mthalane is deposed as champ.
Supreme performance, tears of joy for Edwards, a world champ at 25.
SURELY, SURELY WE HAVE A NEW WORLD CHAMP…
A beautiful, mesmerising, polished performance from Edwards there.
It should be a wide margin win on the scorecards.
Should.
ROUND TWELVE
Mthalane knows he needs the KO – but he hasn’t looked close to it at any point.
Edwards still keeps out of range, his fitness is incredible.
Mthalane trying everything to nail Edwards, but he’s never in range.
What a performance from Edwards here – there is only ONE way this is going!
ROUND ELEVEN
Now Mthalane REALLY throws the kitchen sink at Edwards.
The Brit finally looks tired, he needs to stay on his toes and keep up the footwork.
The champ is coming on strong here, landing a few but nothing to rock Edwards.
ROUND TEN
Some big breaths there from Edwards, and he’s back out for the championship rounds.
Edwards with his arms down the sides as he slips out the way of a Mthalane assault, but he needs to keep his defences up.
Mthalane hell for leather now, but just too messy in there to catch the judges’ eye.
ROUND NINE
Nice body shot from Edwards, Mthalane looks a bit dejected in there.
You’d think it would have to be a punch in a million to change the way this is going.
Glancing left landed by the champ, but no damage caused.
A couple of meaty body shots landed by Mthalane, as Edwards definitely slows.
ROUND EIGHT
Mthalane lunges forward looking for a shot to turn the fight.
But it’s industrious at best, with the fighters’ heads coming close there.
Edwards judges the distance beautifully to escape another desperate lunge.
ROUND SEVEN
Mthalane swinging bombs now, even he looks like he knows he needs to win every round.
Edwards definitely not moving quite as fleet-footed, but still elusive enough.
Mthalane just not doing enough, doesn’t like he has the ‘dig’ in his punches tonight.
ROUND SIX
Edwards maintaining his concentration here, making Mthalane miss and then catching him on combination counters.
The South African is getting closer now, was he prepared to lose the first few rounds to tire Edwards out?
Mthalane has more joy as he finally gets up close and personal, but lacking his customary power.
Edwards relying on single and quickfire doubles, but tappy tappy.
ROUND FIVE
Edwards is like a ballerina in there, leaving Mthalane completely flummoxed.
Edwards back to the centre when he is pushed to the ropes, the champ is being completely outworked and outhought.
Five down and five in the bag for Edwards.
ROUND FOUR
Edwards on his toes throughout, but Mthalane connects nicely.
But the South African does not look too happy in there, he’s looking his age against Edwards at the moment.
Needs to work out how to slow Edwards down – nothing he is trying at the moment is working.
ROUND THREE
Some lovely combos land from Edwards, and manages to get out of danger in time too.
But it will be difficult to see him keeping up this pace for the duration.
Edwards mixes up nice body shots while changing from orthodox to southpaw.
ROUND TWO
Mthalane still on the front foot, but not really doing a lot.
Edwards using his fast feet to spin out of range and land counters when needed.
But Mthalane connects with his first big right, half-flush at least.
Might be 2-0 here now.
ROUND ONE
Fast start from Edwards, who has started nice and positive on the back foot.
Already making his opponent miss, and switching styles.
Looks like Mthalane is trying to work Edwards out – he better do it quickly.
MTHLANE ENTERS THE RING ALL THE WAY FROM SOUTH AFRICA
The champ hasn’t lost a fight since 2008.
That shows the task at hand for Edwards.
EDWARDS OUT FIRST
Looking as confident as you would expect.
Can he upset the odds?
IT’S MAIN EVENT TIME!!
Sunny Edwards is the underdog heading into his date with destiny against Moruti Mthalane.
Can he win the world flyweight title?
CONLAN REACTION
‘He was tougher than I thought, but he was missing loads of punches.
‘I don’t think it was that close, but it was good preparation for what is to come.
‘He held his engine more than I thought he would. It was the perfect kind of test.’
CONLAN WINS DECISION
As expected the Belfast icon takes it but only with two of the ringside officials.
They saw it: 114-114, 115-114 and 117-112.
There was one draw in there but thankfully it had no impact on the result.
ROUND TWELVE
Baluta tumbles to te floor for the FOURTH time but it is from a trip and not a punch.
Conlan cracks him with precision punches but he keeps marching forward and overloading with haymakers.
Baluta down for time number FIVE but it is called a slip again despite cries from Team Conlan that it was the result of a bodyblow.
All over – excellent fight. Conlan should get the nod.
ROUND ELEVEN
It’s getting rough and ragged now asd both men over-extend with right hands.
Conlan is still ducking and dancing, Baluta is still hurling wild shots.
The Belfast hero picks off his man with a couple of counters that score but do not scar.
Excellent counter shot from Conlan cracks Baluta’s chin but the man is made of steel.
ROUND TEN
Baluta is still throwing so many shots, his energy is stunning.
But Conlan is measured and clever and ice cold.
Neither man looks capable of ending this one early, especially after expending so much energy already.
Conlan scores with a one-two right down the nose of Baluta on the bell.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
