Birmingham witnessed a stunning upset in the flyweight division as Galal Yafai delivered a brutal stoppage victory over Sunny Edwards, prompting the latter’s immediate and unexpected retirement from professional boxing. The fight, a masterclass in dominance from Yafai, left Edwards visibly battered and emotionally drained, culminating in a decisive referee stoppage in the sixth round.
From the opening bell, Yafai dictated the pace, relentlessly pinning Edwards against the ropes. A flurry of punches, including a devastating left-cross, right-hook combination in the first round, set the tone for the one-sided contest. Edwards, visibly struggling to find his rhythm and range, absorbed a relentless barrage of blows throughout the fight. The second round saw Edwards take punishing body shots and a powerful left cross, further showcasing Yafai’s superior power and precision.
The signs of Edwards’ distress were evident. He confessed to his corner during the interval that his legs had given way under the pressure, a revelation that foreshadowed the fight’s outcome. In the third round, he continued to be under siege, absorbing a relentless assault that left him visibly wilting. Yafai’s dominance continued through the fourth and fifth rounds, culminating in a series of powerful right hooks that ultimately led to the referee’s intervention in the sixth. The fight was stopped one minute and ten seconds into the sixth round to prevent further unnecessary punishment for Edwards.
Following the fight’s conclusion, a visibly emotional Edwards announced his retirement, stating, “I’ll be real, if I won the fight, I was going into the sunset. This is the last thing that I wanted to do, get that scalp of the Olympic [champion].” His decision was further fueled by a frank assessment of his physical condition. “If I’m being perfectly honest, my body’s falling apart, man. I’ve got bad ankles, I’ve got bad wrists, I’ve got bad shoulders, I’ve got a bad back – everything about me is bad at this moment.” The emotional weight of his physical toll combined with defeat prompted this sudden retirement.
Yafai, who had previously lost to Edwards in an amateur bout in 2015, spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live about the victory and the weight of expectation leading up to the fight. He admitted, “I was scared going into camp, worried what Sunny could do to me. I sparred him; he was hard to spar, he’s beaten me before, he’s been the man in the division, so I had to train as hard as I could to compete with him.” This victory puts Yafai in a strong position to contend for a world title shot, a testament to his determination and exceptional performance against a previously undefeated opponent. The fight served as a stark reminder of the physical demands of professional boxing and the courage it takes to step away from the sport at its highest levels.
