The heartbreaking truth behind Sunny Edwards’ harrowing statement
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Sunny Edwards will carry the weight of his last match and the last things he said during a night filled with intense emotions in what is considered the greatest British flyweight bout in four decades, held in Birmingham on Saturday night.
Edwards was on his feet when he was halted in the sixth round of his match against longtime friend and opponent, Galal Yafai, but the bout had ended well before the referee stepped in. Referee Lee Every made the right call to stop the fight.
Yafai was only in his ninth match and had never lost a single moment in any round. He constantly chased Edwards around the ring, keeping up constant pressure. While the victory wasn't surprising, the identity of the winner took everyone by surprise.
After the second round concluded, Edwards took a seat in front of his new cornerman, Chris Williams, and delivered a chilling one-sentence observation that no boxer wants to utter.
"Can I be honest with you, Chris?" Edwards said, his expression already showing signs of distress as his eyes darted around frantically. "I really don’t want to be here."
One of the boldest moves a boxer can make is to face the moment in a match when they know it's all done. Edwards didn’t back down; he wasn't seeking a way out, but instead was expressing a painful reality. Throughout his career, Edwards has been transparent about his emotions, the challenges he faces outside the ring, and the brutal side of boxing.
He ventured back into the ring for rounds three, four, five, and six, enduring a relentless and strategic pounding. He never backed down or gave up, even though it was a desperate situation. Edwards had every reason to give in to the urge to quit after such a grueling experience, and no one would have blamed him if he had. Yet, he pressed on, demonstrating incredible bravery. Williams, in the corner, did everything he could to keep his battered fighter engaged; it was the right move and deserves recognition rather than criticism. In a fight of this magnitude, there’s little room for kindness or sympathy in a boxer’s corner. It may seem cruel, but that’s the reality of the situation.
In a heartfelt moment, Edwards announced that he’s calling it quits after his last match, explaining that his body can’t handle the grueling training and fights anymore. At just 28 years old and having experienced only his second defeat, it’s hard to forget that he was a world champion less than a year ago. He has the opportunity to take a break, recover both physically and emotionally, and evaluate his future options—retirement being a strong possibility. Boxing is a tough sport, one that demands tough choices from its athletes, who constantly face significant life-altering decisions.
Yafai delivered an impressive performance, effectively wearing down Edwards with his skillful and aggressive approach right from the start. He applied strategic pressure that was both intelligent and powerful, leaving Edwards with little room to maneuver. Instead of being able to operate at his own pace, Edwards found himself having to engage right away, which ultimately led to his defeat.
The victor exited the ring clutching the WBC's interim flyweight championship, but this was about more than just a shiny trophy. Edwards had previously defeated Yafai in the amateur ranks nine years prior, while Yafai went on to compete in the 2016 Olympics. This rivalry had all the elements to create a memorable showdown. Edwards claimed the IBF flyweight world title in 2021, and just four months later, Yafai, competing in his second Olympics, secured the gold medal. It was an intriguing and compelling narrative.
This was only Yafai's ninth match and his first time fighting for twelve rounds. At 31, he’s still considered young in the sport, having avoided exhausting long-distance bouts during his five or six years at the top level of amateur boxing. Yafai was simply too quick, fresh, and strong for Edwards, who by the end looked battered and weary, almost ancient in comparison. Leading up to the fight, there weren't any solid indications that Edwards was struggling; the truth is, Yafai was just in a league of his own that night, completely dominating the match. As they say in boxing, it looked like Edwards aged overnight.
Yafai has several choices ahead, including some tough matchups, yet he entered Saturday night’s bout as the underdog. His Olympic journey, where he secured five victories, was also against the odds. “Maybe now I’ll earn the respect I deserve,” he commented. And he truly has earned it. He could very well be one of the most thrilling fighters in the world at the moment— a promising talent on the verge of stardom. If he were American and had delivered a decisive defeat to Edwards under similar circumstances, the hype would be through the roof. There's no doubt that this is Galal's moment, and it's an exciting time to be part of the flyweight division.
