Sunny Edwards (left) joins Galal Yafai within the ring after the latter’s Sept. 28 third-round technical knockout of Sergio Orozco at Park Neighborhood Enviornment in Sheffield, England. Edwards and Yafai will meet on Nov. 30 at BP Pulse LIVE in Birmingham. Picture credit score: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxingoto credit score: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Sunny Edwards and Galal Yafai face off to advertise their Flyweight Contest on November 30, 2024 at BP Pulse LIVE, Birmingham, UK.
It’s onto actual enterprise for Galal Yafai.
A Nov. 30 homecoming versus former IBF flyweight titlist Sunny Edwards was preserved with a third-round stoppage win over Sergio Orozco. Yafai floored the visiting Mexican within the third and compelled a stoppage at 1:49 of that spherical Saturday at Park Neighborhood Enviornment in Sheffield, England.
The admitted mismatch was put collectively solely to get Yafai (8-0. 6 knockouts) again within the ring forward of his anticipated crossroads bout versus Edwards (21-1. 4 KOs). Yafai, who received an Olympic gold three years in Tokyo, hadn’t fought since April 6 in Las Vegas.
Saturday’s struggle, merely put, was a tune-up.
“I simply wanted a number of rounds within the ring,” famous Yafai. “I really feltl dangerous, I don’t wnat to flatter myself however I’m previous this stage.
Yafai allowed Orozco (9-9, 7 KOs) to linger round for a few rounds. Orozco was by no means exhausting to search out nor did he land something of consequence in his first struggle exterior of Mexico.
The principle concern, notably from Edwards, was that Yafai would undergo a minimize or damage.
The specter of that situation by no means surfaced as Yafai closed the present within the third. Orozco pushed his punches and left himself vast open for a proper jab, straight left combo from the 31-year-old southpaw. The sequence was adopted by a proper uppercut and a left hand down the center to pressure Orozco to fall into the ropes.
Referee Michael Alexander issued an eight depend however ended the struggle as Orozco was on his toes.
“I didn’t need to be this late within the promotion however I wished to get in these rounds,” reiterated Yafai. “I hadn’t fought since April 6. Nov. 30 would’ve been closed to eight months out of the ring.
“That’s not one of the best factor to do versus somebody who, nicely who they assume is primary within the division.”
Now it’s onto a giant home rivalry—albeit, a pleasant one—for arguably the UK’s two finest flyweights.
“Me and Galal, we’re the 2 greatest names in our nation, in our division,” said Edwards. “Olympic Gold medalist [versus] former world champion. Our names have been rivals since our [older] brothers within the amateurs.
“I’m glad the struggle is made.”
Edwards will journey to Yafai’s hometown for his or her Nov. 30 DAZN headliner from BP Pulse LIVE. Matchroom Boxing will host a press convention Tuesday in Birmingham to formally announce the occasion.
Edwards is rated No. 1 at 112 by The Ring. Yafai is the division’s No. 10 rated contender.
The bout will probably be his second since a stoppage loss to Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (20-0, 13 KOs) of their IBF/WBO flyweight unification final Dec. 16 in Glendale, Arizona. Edwards returned to the win column in a technical unanimous determination over Adrian Curiel (24-6-1, 5 KOs) on June 30 in Phoenix.
Curiously, Saturday marked Yafai’s first-scheduled eight-rounder. He’s fought in all ten-rounders since his Feb. 2022 professional debut.
Yafai-Orozco was a part of a five-fight DAZN present headlined by the Rhiannon Dixon-Terri Harper WBO light-weight title struggle.
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