Sunny Edwards: ‘I’m going to batter Waseem’

I think Muhammad Waseem is tough. I was maybe a little bit disappointed that this was the most lucrative, most viable fight for me to take. For me thereโ€™s other exciting fights out there. I was holding out for a fight with Julio Cesar Martinez that fell by the wayside.

But I had the back-up plan. The day we found out about Martinez and Chocolatito fighting I think the next day we announced my fight because it was all pre-agreed. Iโ€™m liking to think Iโ€™m getting to a point where Iโ€™m knowing how to navigate this boxing world a little bit better.

Over 12 rounds I feel like every fight goes the same way. By the second round theyโ€™re putting a lot of effort into it, the third round Iโ€™ve got their rhythm and for the next nine rounds I punch their head in. Thatโ€™s what I think is going to happen with Waseem. But I donโ€™t think heโ€™s going to make it the whole 12 and this is the first time Iโ€™ve ever said that as a pro. Iโ€™ve never said Iโ€™m going to stop anyone. I might not because he is genuinely quite tough, he put Moruti Mthalane down, he went the distance with Moruti, someone who hits harder than I do. But Iโ€™ve just got a youth and an exuberance and a rhythm to my work that I think is too much against someone like Waseem. Bear in mind weโ€™ve sparred rounds before, I punched his head in in a 14-foot ring with a metal bar headguard in front of his face, with 14-ounce gloves on. He canโ€™t hit me. He struggled to hit me and I hit him at free will.

It doesnโ€™t matter what heโ€™s going to try and do. Iโ€™m going to batter him, Iโ€™m going to make him look silly. Iโ€™m going to make a joke of him. Iโ€™m going to showboat, make it flashy, Iโ€™m going to goad him. Iโ€™m going to hurt him, Iโ€™m going to bust him up. Iโ€™m not focusing on what heโ€™s going to do. For me, he doesnโ€™t deserve to be in the ring with me. The last thing he did that impressed me in a boxing ring was when he put Moruti down in the 11th round. Since then heโ€™s had close fights against D or E level opponents, if that. Heโ€™s the other end of the spectrum from me.

But obviously weโ€™ve got to find out. Iโ€™m going to come out and Iโ€™m going to show him Iโ€™m levels above him. But I still have to do that.

The stakes are high. This is something Iโ€™ve worked my whole life to gain. Do you think Iโ€™m going to give it up?ย 

I was always asking for the best fights. If youโ€™re as good as you think you are, and youโ€™ve got a good ย team around you, and you prepare, youโ€™ll be able to beat everyone or at least think you can.

As soon as someone mentioned my name I was ready to go there and then. Any name Iโ€™ve ever mentioned Iโ€™m ready to go there and then. Iโ€™ve never said anything related to boxing that I wasnโ€™t ready to stand on in my whole entire life and that includes flying out to San Diego on 24 hoursโ€™ notice to fight Romรกn Gonzรกlez. I would have gone. I donโ€™t say things I donโ€™t mean.

I might just be completely deluded. But trust me in my head, I believe it.

Every step I take is vital. Because the fall-off at this point is way too far. The fall-offโ€™s way too far.

Ideally I get a fight like a Martinez next and have a wicked little belt collection that would probably give me British fighter of the year. Because, I canโ€™t lie, I want to win that so bad. I got nominated this time, and that was nice. Josh Taylor was a very deserved winner. Beating Waseem thatโ€™s not going to move the needle too much but if I beat a Martinez at the back end of the year, after the year I had last year, after already being top threeโ€ฆ I could get there. I could push for pound-for-pound in Britain.

Share Page