Sunny Edwards and Galal Yafai clash for the WBC Interim World flyweight title on November 30
Former world champion Sunny Edwards (21-1, 4KO) and world-ranked Galal Yafai (8-0, 6KO) clash for the WBC Interim World flyweight title on November 30 in Birmingham, live on DAZN.
Sunny and Galal are ranked #3 and #4 with the WBC, respectively, so the Brits are very evenly-matched on paper and their fight has been years in the making.
Edwards produced a sublime display to inflict a first defeat on Moruti Mthalane in 13 years to become IBF Flyweight World Champion behind closed doors at London’s York Hall back in May 2021. The gifted 28-year-old, who holds a win over Yafai in the amateurs, went on to make four successful defences of his World Title before suffering the first loss of his career in a blockbuster unification clash with Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez at the Desert Diamond Arena in Arizona last December. Showtime Sunny returned to winning ways against Adrian Curiel last time out in June and returns to fight in the UK for the first time since June 2023, aiming to close out the year in style.
Birmingham’s Yafai picked up the WBC International Flyweight crown on his pro debut at The O2 in London before making defences at the world-famous Madison Square Garden in New York, the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi and The O2 once more in April 2023. The 31-year-old demolished Tommy Frank inside two minutes to preserve his unbeaten record in front of his hometown fans in Birmingham in August 2023, before closing out the year with a points win over Rocco Santomauro in Arizona. His last win came against Agustin Gauto at Fontainebleau Las Vegas earlier in April and now he steps up against the vastly more experienced rival Edwards for the biggest test of his pro career to date.
So now that the wait is finally over, who wins and why? BBN’s panel of experts gave their view:
Wayne Alexander Former British & European Champion: “This is a good, evenly-matched fight between two technically skilful British fighters that, I believe, will come down to experience.
“Sunny Edwards has reached the peak level of the sport and I believe that he is still young and hungry enough to win this one on points. But don’t be surprised if it goes the other way by a close margin either.”
Danny “Cassius” Connor Southern Area Champion: “I personally think Sunny Edwards gets the win, Galal is a brilliant fighter and constantly presses and pressures, but that type of fighter seems to be what Sunny performs best with.
“I can see it being a good, close fight, but Sunny’s slick skills prevailing with a split decision win.”
Koby McNamara Unbeaten featherweight: “I have Sunny Edwards beating Galal Yafai on a points decision. I think Sunny will fight on the backfoot most of the fight, but score the better cleaner shots.”
Arijan Goricki IBO Title Contender: “My prediction is Sunny Edwards via UD win. Edwards is the more experienced boxer and that will be a big factor in this fight.”
Rohit Lohan Essentially Sports: “He backs his power with volume punching and a high work rate that keeps his opponents on their toes, and does it by targeting his opponent’s body. You throw into the mix his height and reach advantage over Sunny Edwards, and you can see him running away with a win.
“But it’s not that simple. Galal Yafai largely remains untested at the highest level, and Edward’s resume outweighs him. The latter has faced better fighters and had a long stay at the top. If you factor in how Edwards bagged the win in their last encounter, he may also have the psychological advantage.
“Therefore, Edwards could clinch the interim title, but if Yafai ends up overwhelming him, like Rodriguez, he could avenge his amateur loss and be next in line to face Kenshiro Teraji.”
Marshall Kauffman Kings Boxing: “I am picking Sunny Edwards in this fight because I think that he has more of a pro style that should beat Galal over 12 rounds. Galal hasn’t been tested as a professional yet.”
Harrison Baskind BBN Writer: “This is a proper domestic showdown, which we need more of in the UK. The fight could prove to be a pivotal moment in each of their respective careers. If Edwards loses, is that it? If Yafai loses, he will need to rebuild again too.
“This is so tough to call in my opinion. We saw Edwards get dealt with by a puncher last time out against Bam, and, Yafai, despite having had a blistering start to his career, has never been at this level before.
“My head tells me Yafai will pass this test, however, I can definitely see Edwards putting on a boxing clinic.
“I am edging it to Yafai by a late stoppage, however, I would not bet on it!”
Burim Sylejmani Fides Sports Promotion: “A very exciting fight, Sunny Edwards has a defeat but has more experience. I think Sunny will win this fight.”
Sam Condy BBN Writer: “This is a fantastic British Flyweight contest. Sunny Edwards is an exciting, well-schooled and technical fighter. I expect him to run away with the early rounds and build a comfortable lead.
“We’ve not seen Yafai tested by a top-level fighter yet, and have no real gauge of his power. If he can begin to wear Edwards down, we will be in for a really exciting contest as they reach the later stages of the bout.
“However, I think Edwards’ experience will prevail. He may start to falter towards the back end of the bout, but his early lead should prove enough to get him the win, as long as he can survive to the final bell!
“An intriguing fight of razor-thin margins, but Edwards should just nick it.”
Bogdan Musat King Promotion: “Edwards is a very strong professional boxer, with a very good record. Yafai is the former Olympic Champion, with an impressive amateur background. Looking also at the KO rate, height and power, I will give this fight to Yafai by TKO.”
Ben Winward BBN Writer: “A top-quality match up and the biggest fight in the division, certainly from a UK fan standpoint anyway.
“Sunny has proven himself as one of, if not, the top dog at 112lbs now that Bam has moved up. Whilst Galal has yet to prove himself as one of the very best, in time he will probably be a worthy top 5 contender and win a belt of his own. I just don’t see that being in the form of the interim WBC Belt on November 30th.
“In fights with two top technicians, I believe the classier, faster, more intelligent fighter will always win. Galal is used to being that man in the ring, but against Sunny I think his best bet will be to fight at a high tempo and force an uncomfortable pace. You need that plus elite technical ability to beat Sunny. Galal has the latter, but I just don’t think he has the size or power that Bam had in order to bust Sunny up down the stretch in the same way.
“I think it will be a really high level, closely matched tactical fight, as both fighters will be expecting given their history of 1000’s of rounds of sparring, but I see Edwards having the edge to win a hard fought points decision.”
Tim Rickson BBN Editor: “I think these two flyweights are very closely-matched and that will show during their contest. However, with the extra experience at world level and also his awkwardness, I’m picking Sunny Edwards to win on points in what I expect to be a nip and tuck, back and forth contest.
“Having shared the ring with ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, he’s already fought the best flyweight in the world, so I think he will be able to cope with whatever Yafai brings and be the one to display the ring generalship and clean punches to score the rounds.
“I definitely think that Sunny will be the one to get an early lead. Yafai could be strongest in the last third from 9-12, which is where Sunny will need to be disciplined and tough to get through the storm.”
Oddspedia provides Sunny Edwards and Galal Yafai betting odds from 11 betting sites on 3 markets. Currently, bookmakers place Sunny Edwards as favourite to win at @ 1.66.
Edwards: “This fight has always been inevitable. Our last names hold weight in British boxing and around the world – and it’s really time to put to bed the Edwards-Yafai Saga. Being overlooked for the Olympic Games because of family relationships and city ties – lit a fire all those years back. I beat Galal and was shelved in the same year back in 2015 and now this is my chance to show Britain who the real golden boy is.”
Yafai: “I’m happy that the fight has been made. This is going to be a massive fight for British boxing. I need to win a World Title, and this is a fight that will put me on the cusp of fighting for one when I win in my hometown on November 30.”