SUNNY EDWARDS is still upbeat about his future despite suffering a first career loss at the hands of Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez.
The two gifted flyweights put their unbeaten records and respective belts on the line in a high-stakes contest at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona last night (December 16).
Plenty of verbal exchanges had taken place between both men during fight week adding to the anticipation of what would take place in the ring.
Both brought out the best in one another but after nine rounds of absorbing action which magnified each other’s skill levels it was the damage inflicted by Rodriguez that won the day. A bloodied, bruised, and swollen-eyed Edwards couldn’t make it out for the 10th round with his trainer Grant Smith having seen enough particularly after his fighter was dropped heavily in the few seconds left of the previous frame.
Edwards spoke to Boxing News several hours after the fight to look back on the biggest night of his seven-year career.
“Maybe my pride’s hurt a little bit but it’s a boxing ring and a lot can happen. Bam, great fighter. It weren’t my night tonight.”
Responding to reports that he visited hospital for some treatment he said: “It was just my [left] eye. There was damage to my eye and [when] I got to the hospital, they confirmed it. That’s all it was. Rest of my body; hands, legs, head, everything feels great but just this eye.”
The reputation of Edwards has been built on making opponents miss and using his elusiveness to frustrate and ultimately outclass the previous 20 foes who have tried to solve his puzzles. However, the constant educated pressure of Rodriguez forced Edwards to stand and trade and show a different but capable side of him.
“Whether or not I was forced to [fight] I feel like there was times when I knew trying to do what I wanted to do was getting me beat,” he said.
“I was losing rounds and with the conversations we had in the corner it was go big or go home at that time. And I thought I had a decent round until getting put down. At that point I feel like my vision wasn’t where I needed it to be. Grant was already a bit on to me about his opinion on the fight and my face more so. Grant made the decision and here we are.”
Edwards told BN he had no complaints with the decision to pull him out of the fight.
“Getting dropped quite heavy I knew I was skating on thin ice with how much I could see out my left eye against a very, very good fighter that was on the ascendancy. Grant pulled the fight and no complaints for me. For the first time I was honest with him and said, “Grant, I can’t see.”
Shortly after the defeat Edwards wasted no time in speaking to promoter Eddie Hearn about the future. One that may not necessarily be at flyweight where he reigned as IBF belt holder since dominating Moruti Mthalane in April 2021.
“I feel like I’ve got loads of options genuinely,” he said.
“I know I can make it (light-flyweight) comfortably. It’s where I could drop down and look to fight. I think I’m held in good regard with the IBF. There’s probably a much bigger purse availability with someone like me that’s already been built up, been in big events, headlined and can sell and market a fight quite well. I could do that. Depending on what Bam does if he’s gonna stay or go up there’s options still down here at flyweight. I’d go anywhere so for me I feel like everything’s an option.”
“Real fights only,” he added. “I don’t need tick-overs. Put me straight back in the deep end and I’ll go again. Losing to one great fighter don’t make me feel any less of a great fighter. I feel like on a different day things could have gone a different way. I know how I felt in there today. I don’t think I was completely outclassed. Things just didn’t go right for me on the night, and they needed to.”
