Outspoken Sunny ‘Showtime’ Edwards 9-0 (3) delivered a boxing lesson to local rival Ryan Farrag 19-4 (5) to successfully defend his WBO European super flyweight title at the historic York Hall in Bethnal Green on Friday night live on BoxNation.
The slick-boxing Edwards used his feet effectively to outbox his Liverpool nemesis to earn a unanimous decision victory by the wide scores of 100-91 and 100-90 twice.
The 22-year-old Edwards, who hails from Croydon but boxes out of the Steel City Gym in Sheffield under trainer Grant Smith, switched easily between leading and countering as he used his superior reach and handspeed to land on Farrag with a battery of shots from both hands almost at will throughout the course of the fight.
“This is for the ones who never believed, the ones who laughed and the ones who thought a fat kid from Croydon wouldn’t make something of himself,” Edwards wrote on social media after the win.
“Believe me I am a long way off where I want to be, but as of today I have never been closer. The response and support has been put of this world. Can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
The MTK Global stablemates had engaged in an online war of words in the lead up to the title fight, with Edwards claiming Farrag was “obsessed” with his brother, fellow boxer Charlie Edwards, while Farrag labelled Edwards “an embarrassment”.
The fight nearly kicked off a day early at the weigh-in when Farrag refused Edwards offer of a handshake after the obligatory face-off photo.
WBO number 15 ranked 115-pounder Edwards can expect a boost in the world rankings with his victory.
The WBO super flyweight title is currently vacant after number one ranked Filipino veteran Donnie Nietes had to settle for a split draw against number two ranked contender Aston Palicte in a fight for the vacant title last month.
The title was declared vacant when former champion, Japanese powerhouse Naoya Inoue, moved up to the bantamweight division.
 delivered a boxing lesson to local rival Ryan Farrag 19-4 (5) to successfully defend his WBO European super flyweight title at the historic York Hall in Bethnal Green on Friday night live on BoxNation.){kind=link}