WHEN a fight with Daniel Lapin – a 6’6” southpaw, or rather, a genuine nightmare – emerged as a possibility, Lewis Edmondson pounced at the opportunity without a moment’s hesitation.
The 29-year-old was initially gearing up for an eagerly-anticipated showdown against Ezra Taylor, looking to defend his British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight titles on July 19.
Yet now, it has been announced that Edmondson, 11-0 (3 KOs), will instead enter a vastly different, but no less intriguing, matchup on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois 2.
‘The Saint’ claimed his Lonsdale Belt last October, pulling off a mini upset to squeak past Dan Azeez with a majority decision victory.
As a result, Edmondson now has until the end of this October to face mandatory challenger Taylor, who comes off a unanimous decision victory over Troy Jones.
And with the domestic rivals having gone back-and-forth for quite some time, it would only make sense for their appealing grudge match to materialise down the line.
But first, Edmondson must remain focused on his arguably more formidable assignment against Lapin, 11-0 (4 KOs), a highly-touted prospect and notable member of Team Usyk.
With his spindly frame, the Ukrainian has established himself as a promising technician at 175lbs, always utilising his crafty movement at long-range.
But regardless of the 27-year-old’s potential, Edmondson firmly believes that his skills will light up Wembley Stadium in London, England, come fight night.
“A lot of British names – some good, solid fighters – turned this opportunity down,” Edmondson told Boxing News. “[Lapin’s] a good fighter, but I’m in boxing for these big fights.
“I’m built different to these other fighters, and I believe that I’m destined for the stars, so why not prove to everyone how good I am [on July 19]?
“We’re here to chase greatness, and how are you ever going to know [how good you are] if you’re not taking these risks?
“I could’ve either waited around until October to fight Ezra Taylor, or been in a massive fight on a historic card at Wembley Stadium.
“I’d never turn down an opportunity like that; I’d never even turn down fighting King Kong under those circumstances.”
Heavyweight king Usyk has clearly taken a shine to Lapin, insisting that, when he does eventually hang up the gloves, he is eager to become more involved in the world-ranked contender’s training set-up.
Likewise, Edmondson boasts a high-profile name in his corner, believing that his manager could, in equal measure, encourage him to find that extra gear in the heat of battle.
“I’m not fighting Usyk; I’m fighting Daniel Lapin,” the Southampton man highlighted.
“Obviously [Usyk’s influence is] going to bring him on, the same way I spend a lot of time with [former world middleweight champion] Billy Joe Saunders in camps.
“I’m fighting for my family’s future. I want to build a legacy for myself, and if I beat Daniel Lapin – and put on a great display – who knows what opportunities could arise?
“This is what dreams are made of, and this win will go in the history books.”
