Charlie Edwards looked every bit the champion in maiden title defence
Charlie Edwards (15-1) successfully defended his WBC world flyweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Angel Moreno (19-3-2) at the Copper Box Arena in East London.
The 26-year-old became world champion back in December last year after beating Nicaraguan Cristofer Rosales (28-3) on points, and his maiden title defence showed his dominance and confidence as a champion, winning every single round, all three scorecards reading 120-107.
Edwards, trained by Grant Smith at the Steel City Gym, showed very good boxing skill and ability in his first title defence, as he started aggressively and used his jab very effectively and countered Moreno with his superior sharpness and skills. Edwards landed a vicious uppercut to during the opener as a warning of his power to the Spaniard.
This continued in the second and third round, as the Londoner was very accurate with his punches, not wasting any shots, as the Madrid man was careless in his defence, getting caught far too often every time he opened up and came forward.
Managed by Sergio Martinez, Moreno did get a bit of success in the sixth stanza as he landed hooks on Edwards, but the champion was never troubled and continued to dominate proceedings, without any signs of slowing down.
In the eighth, Edwards displayed a variety of body punches and a counter right that stunned Moreno causing his glove to touch the canvas, forcing the referee to start his count.
The Brit did lower his guard with a bit of showboating towards the end of the bout and tried to get his opponent out of there, who was well beaten but still game.
Edwards dominated start from finish and still had a high output during the championship rounds, pouring out combinations right up until the final bell.
After the scorecards were announced, the focus shifted straight to Edwards’s next fight in which he further explained he wants to fight anyone and everyone, reiterating his desire to build a legacy.
He said: “I want to build a legacy for the British boxing fans and if that means fighting Andrew Selby or Kal Yafai…. I don’t care I want to build a legacy.”
What Edwards didn't know at that time was that Andrew Selby had been knocked out by Julio Cesar Martinez in Mexico. A left hook to body halted Welshman Selby in five rounds, who now drops to 11-1 and the victor, Martinez (14-1), wins the eliminator to challenge for Edwards WBC belt next.
Elsewhere at the Copper Box, 2016 Olympic bronze medallist Joshua Buatsi (10-0) made it to double figures as he halted Liam Conroy in three rounds.
The 26-year-old from Crydon was classy and powerful as he landed the British light-heavyweight title with a one-sided beatdown over former English champioConroy, 26 from Barrow in Furness.
Buatsi, 26, timed a counter-right hand to get his rival in trouble and followed up clinically with a savage right hook to end the contest.
Fellow Team GB 2016 Olympian Lawrence Okolie (12-0) secured his British and added the Commonwealth cruiserweight title to his growing collection by stopping Canning Town's Wadi Camacho (21-8) inside four rounds.
Newcastle's Lewis Ritson (18-1) returned from the first defeat of his career to score a unanimous decision over Argentina's German Argentino Benitez (21-4).
Ritson, who stepped up to super-lightweight for the bout, declared himself unhappy with the display, caused controversy with the three scorecards reading a very inaccurate 99-91, and 98-92 twice.
"It's a first back and I'm trying to learn things in the gym," Ritson said. "They were probably 10 rounds that I needed. I felt great at the weight, he hit me with a few body shots and it didn't affect me."
Shannon Courtenay (1-0) completely bettered her opponent Cristina Busuioc (0-1-1), who was way out of her depth but managed to last the full four rounds.
Meanwhile, at the Leicester Arena on Frank Warren's show, Tommy Fury (2-0) – the younger brother of former world heavyweight champion Tyson – took just 94 seconds to score the second win of his career, stopping Callum Ide with ease.
Sam Bowen (15-0) defended his British super-featherweight title by stopping Jordan McCorry (17-5-1), while British heavyweight hopeful Nathan Gorman (16-0) extended his unbeaten record with a points win over experienced American 'Kingpin' Kevin Johnson (34-13-1).
Sam Maxwell (11-0) was down twice in first and second rounds of his maiden title fight for the WBO European super-lightweight title against Sabri Sediri (10-1-1) and way down on the scorecards, when the Frenchman began to showboat in the final round, wobbling his legs to mimic Maxwell when he was hurt, dancing around with his arms down until he was humbled when an overhand right knocked him down heavily. He rose to his feet but was in no state to continue.
CJ Challenger (10-0) defeated KyleHaywood (8-1) on points to claim the vacant Midlands Area super-welterweight title.