SUNNY ‘SHOWTIME’ EDWARDS: “I MODEL MYSELF ON WILLIE PEP!”
Mighty atom Sunny Edwards might be just seven fights and 23 rounds into his career as a paid prizefighter but already the teenage ABA light-flyweight champion is talking major titles.
‘I want the English and British,’ claims the slick, snappy 22 year old counterpuncher from Croydon who hopes to shine in a scheduled six rounder against Nicaragua’s Cristian Narvaez on this weekend’s huge BT and BoxNation screened bill from Belfast.
‘Because I’m not an ex Olympian or in one of the more glamorous heavier weight, I’m trying to build up my profile on social media. The more fans see of me, the more they’ll realise that I’ve got the potential to go very far. Every day I practice perfecting my craft. I’ve also got a personality. I love speaking to fans. Now I just need a platform.’
Since shedding his singlet in September 2016, Sutton-born Sunny is yet to travel beyond round four and has racked up rave reviews for his high-energy, fan-friendly displays.
‘I’m really happy with how my pro career is progressing,’ says 5ft 3in ‘Showtime’, the younger brother of ex IBF 112lb challenger Charlie Edwards.
‘MTK Global (his management)and Frank Warren (his Hall of Fame promoter) have kept their promises and kept me fairly busy. I’m looking forward to getting my first live exposure on BoxNation. That’s the logical next step.
‘Coming off a win in a (scheduled) 10 round fight recently (a savage four round stoppage of Scotland’s previously unbeaten Ross Murray to scoop the WBO European 115lb strap), I was hoping for something similar. I know through sparring that I’m ready for longer, harder fights that will move me forward.
‘Recently, I spent three weeks over in the Ukraine having really good, learning spars with (unbeaten WBA flyweight boss) Artem Dalakian and a top Filipino bantam called Jason Canoy. I was properly looked after and more than held my own. Artem is very efficient, very composed but, ability wise, we were very well matched.’
‘So I’m really pushing for bigger fights but apparently opponents have been demanding too much money. I don’t need any more tin-can journeymen who I put down with shots I don’t even throw properly. But this Narvaez is decent; holds a win, loss and draw against Paddy Barnes last opponent (Eliecer Quezada).
This Saturday, on the undercard to Mick Conlan’s feted homecoming at The Odyssey Arena, ‘Showtime’ Sunny gets a chance to enhance his standing as a worthy title contender when he squares up to Nicaraguan nugget Narvaez, a 23 year old who has lost just seven of 26 and bagged WBA regional titles.
‘The Irish fans can expect a composed, controlled display, enjoy me switching it up, head and body,’ says the south Londoner, formerly a four-time ball boy at the Wimbledon tennis championships!
‘I’ve got a throwback style. I model myself on Willie Pep (Connecticut’s legendary ‘phantom’ featherweight world champion), lots of lateral movement, good control of the distance. I’m flashy, hands down, stacks of upper body movement. I’m exciting. I always stay right on the edge of range.
‘And I’m a lot more spiteful as a pro. As an amateur, I was a ‘flit around’ boxer but, because of my baby face and quiet voice, my physical strength is very underrated. Now I’m dangerous with the body shots. I’ve stopped three of my last four and I was close to stopping the other one. Narvaez has only been stopped once before but don’t be surprised!
‘I’ve never fought in Belfast before but I attended a recent Ryan Burnett fight as a fan and the atmosphere was special. I’m expecting a little bit of stick because of the banter that’s been going on between myself and (local triple Olympian) Paddy Barnes but Belfast’s a great boxing city, great fans. I can forgive them!
‘Hopefully, I can get my job done in style then enjoy all the ‘needle fights’ and top graders on the bill. A solid performance should take me a tiny step closer to Paddy Barnes!’
