Edwards vs Yafai: Galal Yafai puts on masterclass to beat Sunny Edwards

Yafai, lengthy touted as a future world champion after accumulating gold on the 2020 Olympics, didn’t take the chance to absorb the cheers from the vast majority of the 5,000 in attendance in his dwelling metropolis of Birmingham as he raced down the ramp and into the ring.

Some have questioned the standard of his earlier opponents and there was little doubt that dealing with Edwards was an enormous step up, however he exuded confidence from the primary bell and overwhelmed his rival for each second of each spherical.

Each fighters promised fireworks within the build-up however just one managed to ship on that promise, with Yafai exploding out of the blocks.

Yafai, combating in Birmingham for the primary time since August 2023, displayed the total catalogue of pictures, working head and physique seamlessly and denying Edwards any respiratory area within the ring.

Edwards could possibly be heard telling his coach “I do not need to be right here” in between rounds.

He struggled to seek out his rhythm and when he did handle to land heavy with a proper, Yafai stopped, shook his head and smiled.

The pair each come from combating households with Edwards’ brother Charlie a earlier holder of the WBC flyweight belt, whereas Yafai’s brothers Kal and Gamal have been WBA super-flyweight and European super-bantamweight champions respectively.

There was pressure between their siblings, with Charlie, Kal and Gamal concerned in a number of public disputes, together with all through struggle week and within the locker room within the hours earlier than the principle occasion.

However the relationship between Sunny and Galal has all the time been respectful and that was evident on the finish of fifth after they touched gloves and nodded at one another.

The motion was lastly halted within the sixth when Edwards was backed up on the ropes and unable to reply again with a flurry of punches touchdown on his head.

“I had the most effective camp I may – I used to be frightened about what Sunny may do to me,” Yafai advised BBC Radio 5 Dwell.

“No matter Sunny decides to do, he has been the person for a few years now. I’ve appeared as much as him.

“Sunny is somebody I’ve all the time wished to beat. I knew I used to be higher. He has been an important advocate.”