CHARLIE EDWARDS wants to “build a legacy” after making the first defence of his WBC flyweight title by outclassing Spain’s Angel Moreno at the Copper Box Arena in London.
The 26-year-old produced his finest performance to date to win all 12 rounds on each of the three ringside judges’ scorecards, earning a unanimous decision via scores of 120-107 having also knocked Moreno down in the eighth.
Wales’ promising Andrew Selby lost when he fought to become his mandatory challenger against Julio Cesar Martinez Aguilar in Mexico later on Saturday evening, but potential opponent Kal Yafai, the WBA super flyweight champion, would prove high-profile domestic rivals.
Edwards, who fought with such confidence he even indulged in instances of showboating, said: “I want to build a legacy for the British boxing fans. Whoever is next I’m ready. I want to unify, and I want to build a legacy.
“I’m obsessed with this game. I’m obsessed with bettering myself day in, day out. I like to prove everyone wrong. This is a dream come true.
“My boxing IQ has gone up ten-fold. My trainer Grant Smith, the more time we are working together the better we’re getting. My career is going to be very very beautiful under this man.
“He did give me a telling off. I got a bit carried away, it was my first title defence, I felt comfortable in there and I wanted to do a bit of ‘show-time’. I knew once I got that telling off not to do it again.”
Moreno, once a sparring partner for Edwards, was hurt on several occasions and was again at risk of being stopped in the 12th, consistently looking short of the ability required to contest world titles.
“It was about levels,” the champion added. “He’s a great fighter and a tough fighter.
“I’ve shared many rounds with him. I knew he was always going to be a tough test and he was going to be there until the end. But it was a punch-perfect clinical boxing performance, just like I predicted
“I am going to go all the way and I’m going to be a multi-weight world champion, mark my words.”
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