Charlie Edwards (proper) tags Luke Wilton. Picture: Matchroom Boxing
European bantamweight titlist Thomas Essomba had been anticipated to face obligatory challenger Paul Butler subsequent. There was in actual fact a handbag bid scheduled for tomorrow.
Nevertheless, an settlement was made for Essomba to as an alternative make a voluntary protection of his crown in opposition to former WBC flyweight titleholder Charlie Edwards at a venue to be decided within the U.Okay. on September 13.
The winner should face two-time world champion Butler subsequent.
The robust luck Essomba (13-8-1, 4 knockouts) lastly caught a break when he shocked Alessio Lorusso (UD 12) in Monza, Italy final Could.
Beforehand, the Cameroon-born fighter, who relies within the U.Okay. had turned skilled in 2009 had given sterling efforts in opposition to a number of fighters for varied titles together with former world title challenger Jay Harris (L UD 12), then unbeaten Kyle Williams (L SD 10), once-touted Lee McGregor (L TKO 12) and future IBF flyweight beltholder Sunny Edwards (UD 12), who can also be Charlie’s youthful brother.
However regardless of the defeats, the 36-year-old southpaw remained a tough proposition and upset Louis Norman (KO 6) and took the unbeaten information of Sean McGoldrick (UD 10) and Iskander Kharsan (TKO 3). His huge break got here when he bested Lorusso to assert the EBU title and has since defended his title in opposition to Elie Konko (SD 12).
Edwards (19-1, 7 KOs) preliminary path has been much less fraught. He was on Group GB and represented his England on the 2011 and 2013 World Championships, 2013 European Championships and 2014 Commonwealth video games earlier than turning skilled in 2015.
The Brit notched eight wins and on the undercard of Gennadiy Golokin-Kell Brook met IBF flyweight kingpin John Riel Casimero. The chance got here alongside too quickly and he was stopped by the Filipino in 10-rounds.
Two-years and 5 wins later, Edwards was matched with Cristofer Rosales for the WBC title. He boxed expertly and claimed the title by 12-round unanimous choice. After one profitable protection he regarded to defend his belt in opposition to the marauding power-puncher Julio Cesar Martinez. The Mexican landed a shot while Edwards was down and the combat was declared a no-contest.
The battle to make 112-pounds was an excessive amount of and Edwards vacated the title and moved up in weight. Issues didn’t go in response to plan and for a number of causes Edwards fought simply 4 occasions within the following 5-years. Most just lately the 31-year-old beat Georges Ory (UD 10) in April and now appears to be like like he’s discovering exercise and alternatives.
This appears to be like like a superb combat between two fighters who’ve had their share of obstacles and will probably be determined to win and push ahead with their respective profession’s. With each males of their 30s, it’s a combat neither can afford to lose.
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