A former world champion faces one of boxing’s bright young stars when Sunny Edwards and Galal Yafai compete on November 30 for the interim WBC flyweight title. The event in Birmingham airs on DAZN.
Edwards (21-1) won the IBF flyweight title in 2021. He held gold until losing against Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez in a unification fight in 2023.
In June, the Surrey-born star returned to action, beating former light flyweight champion Adrian Curiel.
A four-time medalist at the amateur level, Yafai (8-0) has won six fights via knockout. The Birmingham-born star recently competed in September and looks to go 3-0 in 2024.
The two have a history with one another dating back to their amateur days. Edwards beat Yafai in 2015, but Yafai was selected to Team GB at the Rio Olympics.
Between the press conferences and other pre-fight activities, the two will wait to battle in the ring. That’s when all the pleasantries end.
WATCH: Sunny Edwards vs. Galal Yafai, live on DAZN
“I think everyone can see, there’s not a massive grudge,” Yafai said via Boxing Scene.
“There’s sporting rivalry, which I’m not gonna want to lose to Sunny Edwards, he’s not going to want to lose to Galal Yafai. But the respect’s there.
“But the respect goes out the window when the bell rings, and I’ll be trying to rip his head off, and he’ll be trying to box my head off.
“It should gel for a great fight, from the spars we had, definitely.”
“I think as long as I stay disciplined with my feet I can hurt him, I can definitely outbox him,” Edwards said via Bad Left Hook.
“I think if I lose this fight it’s completely on my doing. I think that it is there for me to win.”
On the undercard, a former champion returns to action while local gold is on the line.
Sunny Edwards vs. Galal Yafai undercard
Here’s a breakdown of all the action on the Edwards vs. Yafai card.
Cameron Vuong vs. Gavin Gwynne
- Division/Weight: Lightweight
- Vuong record: 6-0
- Gwynne record: 17-3-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Cameron Vuong faces Gavin Gwynne.
A former National Champion, Voung (6-0) looks to go 4-0 in 2024. “The One” has won half his fights via knockout.
Gwynne (17-3-1) is a former Commonwealth, British, and European lightweight champion. The Wales-born fighter is 2-1-1 in his last four fights and looks to rebound following a TKO loss against Mark Chamberlain.
Conah Walker vs. Lewis Ritson
- Division/Weight: Welterweight
- Walker record: 13-3-1
- Ritson record: 23-4
- Belts at stake: N/A
Conah Walker faces Lewis Ritson.
Trained by Ricky Hatton, Walker (13-3-1) previously challenged for English gold. The Wolverhampton native is 2-2 in his last four fights, looking to go 2-1 in 2024 and avenge a recent loss in Birmingham.
A multi-time amateur champion in multiple weights, Ritson (23-4) has held British lightweight gold. “Sandman” is on a two-fight losing streak, losing against Paddy Donovan to start 2024. The 31-year-old has 13 wins via knockout.
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Kieron Conway vs. Ryan Kelly
- Division/Weight: Middleweight
- Conway record: 21-3-1
- Kelly record: 19-4-1
- Belts at stake: Commonwealth middleweight title
Kieron Conway and Ryan Kelly compete for the Commonwealth middleweight title.
Conway (21-3-1) drew against Ted Cheeseman in 2019 for British gold. He has gone 9-2 since and is on a three-fight win streak. It is the first time the Northampton-born fighter competes in the U.K. in over a year.
Kelly (19-4-1) is 3-0-1 in his last four fights after trading wins and losses from 2019 to 2022. “Ruthless” looks to go 2-0 in 2024.
Troy Jones vs. Michael Stephenson
- Division/Weight: Lightweight
- Jones record: 11-0
- Stephenson record: 9-2
- Belts at stake: English lightweight title
Troy Jones defends the English lightweight title against Michael Stephenson.
Jones (11-0) blew past Leon Willings in August to win the English belt. The 26-year-old looks to go 4-0 in 2024 as he works up the division.
Stephenson (9-2) is 2-1 in his last three fights and 1-1 in 2024. The 31-year-old looks for his first taste of gold.
Callum Smith vs. Carlos Galvan
- Division/Weight: Light Heavyweight
- Smith record: 29-2
- Galvan record: 20-14-2
- Belts at stake: N/A
Callum Smith returns to action against Carlos Galvan.
A silver medalist in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Smith (29-2) won the WBA super middleweight title in 2018 but lost the belt against Canelo Alvarez.
“Mundo” moved to light heavyweight and won two straight before getting knocked out by then-unified champion Artur Beterbiev. He has quickly thrown out retirement rumors following that fight.
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Galvan (20-14-2) is 1-2-1 in his last four fights. “El Guerrero” has 19 wins via knockout.
Ibraheem Sulaimaan vs. Marvin Solano
- Division/Weight: Super Featherweight
- Sulaimaan record: 5-0
- Solano record: 24-20
- Belts at stake: N/A
Finally, Ibraheem Sulaimaan faces Marvin Solano.
A four-time National Champion, Sulaimaan (5-0) looks for his fourth win of 2024. “Spider” has three wins via knockout.
Solano (24-20) is on a 14-fight losing streak. The Nicaraguan hasn’t won a fight since 2021 and hasn’t won consecutive fights since 2019.
Sunny Edwards vs. Galal Yafai tune-in info
- Date: Saturday, November 30
- Time: 2 p.m. ET | 11 a.m. PT | 7 p.m. GMT | 6 a.m. AEDT
- Location: BP Pulse LIVE – Birmingham
- Live Stream: DAZN
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