Sunny Edwards Returns in September Against Mandatory Challenger Jayson Mama
Promoter Frank Warren has announced that Sunny Edwards (16-0, 4 KOs) will make the first defense of the IBF World flyweight title against mandatory challenger Jayson Mama (16-0, 9 KOs). The fight will take place on September 11 at the Copper Box Arena in London, England.
Edwards won the title with an unanimous decision victory over the highly respected Moruti Mthalane on April 30, 2021. The 25-year-old from London used his footspeed and energetic style to steal rounds and pile up the points.
Viewed as the underdog heading in by the boxing media, the Brit surprised the experts by scoring one of the bigger upsets in 2021. During an interview with BT Sport, the champ disclosed the upcoming fight against Mama was in the plans all along.
“We knew who we were fighting, anyway. The condition of getting a world title shot was that I had a mandatory straight away.
I said to Frank then and I said to my management, I think I’ll beat anyone. So it doesn’t matter a mandatory, it makes no difference to me.”
The reigning champ says he went into training a week after his win over Mthalane and is in great shape. His goal is to keep the momentum going.
This is Mama’s long-awaited world title opportunity. He was set to fight for the title against Mthalane in December 2020. It was to be a homecoming title defense for the then-IBF champ in his home country of South Africa. Unfortunately, the bout was scrapped due to differences with the country’s boxing regulatory body, Boxing South Africa. He was further held back for Mthalane to face Edwards. Now, at last, the 24-year-old from General Santos City, Philippines gets his world title shot.
STYLES MAKE FIGHTS
Edwards is a pure boxer. At his best, he frustrates guys with his footspeed, then explodes with three and four-punch combinations then returns on his bicycle. His best asset may be his conditioning. This is a man who seems to fight with an endless gas tank.
Mama can do a bit of everything. He’s the more explosive fighter who is equally comfortable mid-range out or forcing the action on the front foot. On paper, it shapes up to be a very competitive scrap.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
