Former IBF world flyweight champion ‘Showtime’ Sunny Edwards defeated 2020 Olympic gold medalist and WBC international champion Galal Yafai by stopping him in six rounds for the vacant WBC interim flyweight title on Saturday night at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham. , England.
(Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Edwards (21-2-1, 12 KOs) was stopped by 2020 Olympic gold medalist Jafai (9-0, 7) at 1:10 of the sixth round of the scheduled 12 rounds.
For the first five rounds, it was all Yafai, his hand speed getting the better of Edwards. Referee Lee Avery had seen enough in the sixth round, declaring a stoppage.
WBA Intercontinental Middleweight Champion Kieron ‘Too Class’ Conway (22-3-1, 6 KOs) defeated ‘Ruthless’ Ryan Kelly (19-5-1, 8 KOs) by split decision in 12 rounds for the vacant Commonwealth Title in the middleweight category in 12 rounds.
In the first four rounds, Kelly continued to push forward against the jabs of Conway who had the upper hand. From rounds five through nine, Conway opened up in the final minutes, taking tight rounds.
In the tenth round, Kelly drew blood from Conway’s nose. In the twelfth and final round, Kelly finished him off with a right to the chin, ending a close fight.
The scores were 116-112 Conway, 115-114 Kelly, 115-113 Conway.
Lightweight ‘The One’ Cameron Vuong (7-0, 1 KO) defeated former British, Commonwealth and EBU champion ‘Mercer Mexican’ Gavin Gwynne (17-4-1, 5 KO) in ten rounds .
For the first three rounds, Gwyn followed Vuong around the ring, countering mostly with punches. In the fourth round, a clash of heads caused a cut under Gwynn’s left eye.
In the fifth through eighth rounds, Gwyn began to land more, causing Vuong to occasionally turn his southpaw against the ropes, though Gwyn’s left eye was slowly being partially closed and cut below their right eye. In the final seconds of the ninth round, Vuong landed a good shot. In the tenth and final round, the fight looked like it was going to happen.
Results 97-94, 96-95 and 96-94. Some fans were not happy with the decision.
In the main support, former WBA International Welterweight Champion Conah ‘The Wolf’ Walker (14-3-1, 5 KOs) easily defeated former British Light and VBA Inter-Continental Super Light Champion ‘The Sandman’ Lewis Ritson (23- 5, 13 KOs) over ten rounds.
In the first eight rounds, Walker outplayed Ritson throughout. In the ninth round, Ritson came out holding Walker, trying to go the distance. In the tenth and final round, Ritson finally opened up in the last minute, with a large fight gap.
The results were 98-93 and twice 97-93.
BBBofC England Light Heavyweight Champion Troy Jones (12-0, 6 KOs), defeated Michael ‘Mini Mike’ Stevenson (9-3) over ten rounds.
In the fifth round, Jones was disqualified by referee Mark Lyson for using his shoulder.
The scores were 98-91, 98-91 and 97-93.
Flyweight Hamzan ‘The Great’ Uddin (3-0, 1 KO) defeated Ben ‘L’il’ Stormin’ Norman, 7-6) in six rounds.
In the first three rounds, Udin had the advantage. In the fourth and fifth rounds, Norman came forward and was countered. In the sixth and last round, Udine’s bodywork won.
Referee Peter McCormack scored it 59-56.
Middleweight Aaron Bowen (4-0, 3 KOs) knocked out James Todd (4-4-2) in the fifth round of a scheduled six round bout.
In the round, Bowen dropped Todd. In the fifth round, he finished him off with a left to the body.
Super welterweight Ibraheem ‘Spider’ Sulaimaan (6-0, 4 KOs) knocked out Marvin Solano (24-21, 8 KOs) in two of the scheduled six rounds.
In the second round, a left to the body dropped Solano for a full count from Referee Peter McCormack.
Super middleweight Taylor Bevan (1-0, 1 KO) stopped Greg ‘The Real Deal’ O’Neill (7-9-1, 1 KO) in the second round of a scheduled four-rounder.
Bevan scored a pair of knockdowns in the second round when referee McCormack stopped.
Light heavyweight Callum ‘Mundo’ Smith (30-2, 22 KOs) stopped Carlos Galvan (20-15-2, 19 KOs) in the fifth round of a scheduled eight round bout.
In the fifth round, referee Kevin Parker stopped after Smith dropped Galvan twice with lefts to the body.
The ring announcer was David Diamante.