Super flyweight Sunny Edwards has signed a contract extension with Queensberry Promotions as he proceeds with his push towards world level, starting with the defence of his European title against Portuguese-boxer Pedro Matos at The SSE Arena, Wembley on April 27th.

The Croydon man, who is managed by MTK Global, has seen himself join the ‘who needs him’ club domestically in recent times with many of his fellow countryman not willing to step up and fight the 23-year-old.

But Edwards still hasn’t given up on his quest to find a worthy challenger and will continue his search at a lighter division.

“I’ve been boxing at super flyweight when I’m actually a natural flyweight, I’ve spoken to my management team MTK Global and we’re looking to campaign at flyweight. I’m not small for super flyweight but by no means am I big at the weight.”

“Ideally, I would like some domestic names on my record but can’t see them happening anytime too soon- we looked at the Jay Harris fight but he’s now going for the European title.

“We also looked at Tommy Frank, he’s just won the commonwealth and I thought it would make sense with the British title vacant, he brings his Commonwealth and I bring my WBO International and European titles. We tried making that, he wasn’t interested.

“There is also Paddy Barnes, but he isn’t going to fight me.

“The annoying thing about these fighters are that they’re too content on taking these four or six rounders for too long for my liking. I was only 3 and 0 and I was asking to be pushed towards title fights.”

23-year-old Edwards currently holds the WBO European super flyweight title, winning the belt by knocking out Ross Murray in the 4th round of their contest, then successfully defended the title when he put on a classy performance to defeat former EBU European champ, Ryan Farrag.

Sunny added the WBO International super flyweight title in December 2018 when he soundly beat tough Mexican, Junior Granados, a win which ranks him at number 8 in the world- and the steel city gym fighter would have no issue with stepping up towards the big boys of the division.

“On my day, I can mix it with anyone around my weight in the world. Not saying I can beat them, but I know I can put in a good account of myself.

“There’s a reason why I’ve been called to be sparring partner multiple times for world champions. I have proved that I can mix it in there with them and it’s competitive.

“I really want to build my experience with different situations, different sort of opponents and push for fighting in different countries.”

Sunny Edwards is in action on the undercard of Daniel Dubois vs Richard Lartey at The SSE Arena, Wembley on April 27th where he will defend his WBO European super flyweight title against Portuguese-boxer, Pedro Matos.

Tickets are priced as £40, £50, £75, £100 and £150 and are now ON SALE to purchase via Eventim, Ticketmaster, the SSE Arena website and AXS.com

SUNNY EDWARDS believes he and world champion brother Charlie are following in the footsteps of heavyweight greats, The Klitschkos.

The Croydon flyweight siblings might be nine stone lighter than the Ukrainian former world heavyweight champions, but the little big men are inspired by their success story.

Sunny (10-0, 3 KOs) is heading towards world honours, while Charlie is WBC flyweight champion – the division where both aspire to hold global gongs at the same time and dominate like the Klitschkos did.

“We are the mini Croydon Klitschkos,” roared Sunny who defends his WBO European super-flyweight title at SSE Arena, Wembley on Saturday April 27, live on BT Sport.

Sunny, 23, showed he is destined for the top at the back end of 2018 with impressive wins against Ryan Farrag and Adrian Granados.

Charlie has been defeated, but like the Klitschkos showed mettle to bounce back from defeat and become a world champion.

Sunny said: “The Klitschkos would have started out with nothing and that is what makes you dangerous.

“I’ve always said that if you have disposable income and want for nothing those fights that you lose or times it gets hard, how easy is it to turn around and say; ‘Boxing isn’t for me?’

“When you have invested everything those setbacks don’t knock you off. They just help you pave a different way.

“Flyweights are not the biggest division, but we’re building enough of a profile. We’re not earning what the heavyweights do, but we’re earning good money and not slaving away in ten rounders for a couple of grand.”

Although the Edwards pair have devoted their lives to boxing, it was only 12 months ago they started training together when Charlie joined Sunny at Grant Smith’s Steel City gym in Sheffield.

Sunny added: “Although we have the same career we are walking them differently. We have different promoters for a start.

“Although he is my brother and I am so proud of where he is I am still paving my own way. I’m not looking for handouts off the back of him.

“It is great to have him alongside me training at Steel City gym. We help each other, we bring each other on and it’s great.”

Daniel Dubois v Richard Lartey tops the bill at the SSE Arena, Wembley on April 27 on a card that also includes the Commonwealth super middleweight title fight between Lerrone Richards and Tommy Langford, as well as the Southern Area super middleweight title clash between Zak Chelli and Jimmy Smith. WBO European super flyweight champion Sunny Edwards and WBO European super featherweight champion Archie Sharp also feature.

Chorley-boxer Jack Catterall will be in action as he edges ever-closer to a world title challenge. Rangy Super Welterweight talent Hamzah Sheeraz will be back out after his impressive win over Rod Douglas Jnr. Hard hitting middleweight and Peacock gym product Denzel Bentley (9-0) and Belfast amateur middleweight star Caoimhin Agyarko will also return to action. There are Queensberry debuts for unbeaten welterweight Chris Kongo (10-0) and Sheffield middleweight Shakiel Thompson (2-0) – with Thompson being tipped by sparring partner Billy Joe Saunders as a star for the future. Ilford Super Middleweight Umar Sadiq (4-1) also returns as he looks to rebuild after his first career loss. Tunde Ajayi trained lightweight Bilal Ali (1-0) will have his second professional fight after making a successful start to his pro career, with Hoddesdon super lightweight Alfie Price set for his fifth.

Tickets will be priced as £40, £50, £75, £100 and £150 and are now ON SALE to purchase via Eventim, Ticketmaster, the SSE Arena website and AXS.com

Although reigning as WBO European & International champion at super flyweight, 10-0 Croydon man Sunny Edwards is very open to boxing at the weight division below, like his brother WBC World Champion, Charlie.

The 23-year-old managed to put a significant marker down in the professional ranks in 2018, with wins over former European bantamweight champion Ryan Farrag and then later the big-hitting Mexican Junior Granados

“My Farrag fight got me out there a lot more, then Granados was to prove to my management team and my promotional team that I am actually the real deal and not just a mouthpiece who is calling for these fights.

‘Showtime Sunny’, who became a father just ten days before the fight with Granados, explains that preparation heading into that fight was not the best.

“My baby came along ten days before my Granados fight and I spent two days at the hospital, which was not the best prep, with only having two or three spars as well.

“A week later Charlie won his world title so it was just a great end to the year for the whole family and we finished with such a buzz, with the baby’s first Christmas to top it off.”

Edwards, who returns to the ring to defend his WBO International and European Super Flyweight titles at the SSE Arena, Wembley on April 27, is now back on his feet after an injury in the Granados fight resulted in him joining the walking wounded.

It came about when he was plonked on the canvas for the first time in the second round and ruled him out of action. Now he is determined to make up for lost time at his training base in Sheffield.

“The only low point for me was I suffered an injury in the Granados fight and ruptured two ligaments when I went down in the second. I still got through it and then had eight weeks out doing nothing and was on crutches for four of them in a boot.

“I’ve picked it back up now and I am ready and raring to go.”

Asked if he would consider a move down to flyweight, where his brother campaigns – the former Team GB member responded ‘I’m the second biggest name in the flyweight division… and I share the same last name as the biggest!’

Daniel Dubois v Richard Lartey tops the bill at the SSE Arena, Wembley on April 27 on a card that also includes the Commonwealth super middleweight title fight between Lerrone Richards and Tommy Langford, as well as the Southern Area super middleweight title clash between Zak Chelli and Jimmy Smith. WBO European super flyweight champion Sunny Edwards and WBO European super featherweight champion Archie Sharp also feature.

Rangy Super Welterweight talent Hamzah Sheeraz will be back out after his impressive win over Rod Douglas Jnr. Hard hitting middleweight and Peacock gym product Denzel Bentley (9-0) and Belfast amateur middleweight star Caoimhin Agyarko will also return to action. There are Queensberry debuts for unbeaten welterweight Chris Kongo (10-0) and Sheffield middleweight Shakiel Thompson (2-0) – with Thompson being tipped by sparring partner Billy Joe Saunders as a star for the future. Ilford Super Middleweight Umar Sadiq (4-1) also returns as he looks to rebuild after his first career loss. Tunde Ajayi trained lightweight Bilal Ali (1-0) will have his second professional fight after making a successful start to his pro career, with Hoddesdon super lightweight Alfie Price set for his fifth.

Tickets will be priced as £40, £50, £75, £100 and £150 and are now ON SALE to purchase via Eventim, Ticketmaster, the SSE Arena website and AXS.com.

SUNNY EDWARDS WILL take on a tough Mexican challenge in the shape of Junior Granados when he returns to the ring at the Brentwood Centre on December 15 with the WBC International super flyweight title at stake, live on BT Sport

The 22-year-old will enter double figures as a professional when he bids for a tenth straight victory, following on from his most impressive performance to date when he outfoxed the experienced Ryan Farrag by a shut out margin on two of the judges’ cards at York Hall last month.

The win put a marker down in the super flyweight division for the currently Sheffield-based former Team GB member who hopes to place himself into contention for a shot at the British title to go alongside his WBO European belt.

Grenados is best known to UK and Ireland fight fans for his only fight outside of his native Mexico when he engaged in an absolute war against Jamie Conlan in Dublin in July 2015.

In a truly compelling encounter, Conlan was down and virtually out after being floored twice in the seventh round to body shots and then on the brink of stoppage when he was forced to fend off a flurry of shots that left him rocking on the ropes.

Against the odds, Conlan re-established his composure and, with the crowd behind him, finished strongly to clinch a decision on the cards that was disputed by the Granados camp.

The 25-year-old has since recorded three wins – with one defeat via split decision – and holds a record of 16-5-1. Two of the wins were against the world ranked Aston Palicte (20-1 at the time) and the previously unbeaten Roque Mex (16-0-1).

“He had a war with Jamie and had him down a couple of times – but Jamie still got the win – and since then he has had a good couple of wins,” said Edwards on his next assignment.

“They were two opponents with very good records, so Granados is definitely going to come and have a go. His record is probably a bit misleading with a few losses on it but he has fought top people and this is a good level fight.

“When it was offered to me I did what I have done with every one of my opponents, or potential opponents, and that is say yes. I haven’t said no to anyone and I think that is getting obvious now because there are a lot of easier fights I could have taken than Junior Granados.

“Coming off of my win over Farrag it was put to me by my promotional team that they wanted me on a TV bill to build up my momentum and that is what I need more than anything, along with the exposure of performing on BT Sport.

“One hundred per cent it is good that they are thinking of me in terms of being in fights like this. I feel like I deserve it now, the Farrag fight has elevated me to them wanting me on the shows and that is the best place I can be.”

9-0 Heavyweight sensation Daniel Dubois faces former World Title challenger Razvan Cojanu (16-4) on the BT Sport televised show from the Brentwood Centre. Former British Welterweight champion Bradley Skeete also returns and seeks to restore his name in the world rankings.

Also showcasing their talents in Brentwood will be exciting super featherweight Ryan Garner (7-0), super welterweight Hamza Sheeraz (5-0), former Team GB flyweight Harvey Horn (3-0), unbeaten Light Heavyweight Willy Hutchinson (6-0), bantamweight Jake Pettitt (4-0), middleweight Caoimhin Agyarko (1-0). Portsmouth lightweight Mark Chamberlain will make his professional debut.

TICKET PRICES
£150 – Hospitality
£100 – Floor
£50 – Bleachers unreserved
Doors Open: 4pm

Tickets available via Ticketmaster

SUNNY EDWARDS INSISTS it will be his decision alone when it comes to setting the tempo for his big BoxNation bill-topper against Ryan Farrag at York Hall on Friday evening.

The 22-year-old defends his WBO European flyweight title against the 30-year-old former European champion in a match-up that has caught fire across social media platforms, with hostilities being exchanged on almost a daily basis.

“I see this fight playing out in one of two ways and really it is down to me to decide which way it goes,” reasoned Sunny, who is entering into his ninth professional fight. “Don’t get me wrong, I see him as a tough fighter in the sense that he’ll be there and he will look to have a go in every round – he won’t go missing or hide.

“But, if I stick to my boxing and moving, which I think I’ve displayed in certain fights and everyone in the gym knows I can be an absolute nightmare in that if I don’t want to get hit, I will not get hit. For sure, I honestly believe hand on heart, I could completely outbox him for ten clear rounds no question about it.

“However, I’ve worked on a lot of things and I am a much changed fighter from what I was in the amateurs and even the last year. So I’ll be looking to seize opportunities where perhaps before I didn’t and, of course, I am headlining a BoxNation show so I am looking to put on a performance.

“I know he thinks I will be running away for the whole fight, but that is just that boxer vs fighter mentality where, when they lose, they can just say ‘he ran away from me for ten rounds’. I just use ring skills.”

Edwards went on to explain in his Fighter Diary column on www.frankwarren.com that he had no intention of kicking off an anti-social media campaign against his opponent when the fight was called, but an online olive branch was swiftly rebuffed by the 19-3 Farrag.

“He is a big step up for me, I know that. The three fights he’s lost were against two world champions and a European champion, so he is a good fighter.

“Yes things have got disrespectful but, being completely honest, when the fight was made the day after the board ordered for him to fight Jay Harris for the British title, so it looked like I was going to have my biggest fight snatched away from me. So I messaged him saying I respected him for taking the fight and wished him the best in camp.

“I tried to be respectful because, at the end of the day, we both know the fight had enough interest that we didn’t need any nonsense. It is a good level fight, hence the headline status without question.

“He then replied ‘thanks squirrel face’. After that I thought ‘this is gonna be fun then’ and it set the tone for what has happened since.”

Coverage of Edwards-Farrag on Friday begins live on BoxNation from 7pm