SUNNY Edwards and Galal Yafai contest the WBC Interim flyweight title this Saturday evening in Birmingham. Edwards has already been a world champion and wants to return to the summit.
Yafai wants to step on his head and leapfrog his way to world honours despite only holding single-digit fight numbers. While the main event should be a spicy affair, there is a solid undercard prepared by Matchroom to accompany it.
Kieron Conway vs. Ryan Kelly
After recording a stoppage win out in Japan, Northampton’s Kieron Conway would’ve been forgiven for thinking that his time floating about on UK undercards was over for now. Instead, after the Prizefighter tournament was canned, Conway and the other participants had to find other slots to pass their time.
A Commonwealth middleweight clash with Birmingham’s ‘Ruthless’ Ryan Kelly should suffice. Kelly is a tough nut who gave Michael McKinson and Brad Pauls good arguments in past efforts.
Cameron Vuong vs. Gavin Gwynne
A step-up affair for Blyth’s Vuong as he seeks to reinforce his moniker as ‘The One’. 6-0, three by way of, Cameron has done everything asked of him, but Gwynne is a robust operator, tall for the weight and a former European champion.
Gwynne has only been stopped by heavy-handed fighters like James Tennyson and Mark Chamberlain. If Vuong can enforce a trinity of stoppages, it would be a statement indeed.
Conah Walker vs. Lewis Ritson
This should be a good, honest domestic dust-up between two boxers seemingly moving in different directions. Ritson was once a feared banger at this level but has lost four times, twice by ninth-round stoppage in his last two outings. Admittedly, both times were by good fighters.
Wolverhampton’s Walker is also coming off a defeat to Belfast’s Lewis Crocker. However, it was a narrow loss with Walker forcing the pace. That display, combined with wins over unbeaten duo Cyrus Pattinson and Lloyd Germain, shows the direction in which his career is moving, and he’ll fancy rolling over the ‘Sandman’ on West Midlands turf.
Troy Jones vs. Michael Stephenson
Birmingham’s Troy Jones defends the English light-heavyweight title he claimed by beating Leon Willings (of Ben Whittaker fame). Jones has a decent dig and can fight at a pace. Bedford’s Michael Stephenson is a non-puncher who has form at Area level and should be able to last the distance, keeping the scores tight throughout.
Best of the rest
Walsall flyweight Hamza Uddin returns to the scene of his last victory by taking on seasoned Benn Norman over eight rounds. Huge Coventry middleweight Aaron Bowen boxes James Todd over six.
Birmingham’s Ibraheem Sulaimaan takes on Nicaraguan veteran Marvin Solano and Welsh debutant Taylor Bevan kicks things off against Greg O’Neill. Former world champion Callum Smith returns in an eight-rounder ahead of what Eddie Hearn reckons will be a big fight in 2025.
