Sunny Edwards vs Felix Alvarado

Friday evening on the Sheffield Enviornment sees a homecoming for Sunny Edwards, as he returns to struggle within the UK with a 3rd defence of his IBF flyweight title, this time in opposition to Nicaragua’s Felix Alvarado, a former IBF ruler at gentle flyweight.

Probellum promote Edwards vs Alvarado and the bout is offered to observe on FITE TV.

Edwards (18-0, 4 KOs) has quick made a popularity for himself as one of many premier flyweights in world boxing, and after choosing up fringe worldwide belts at tremendous flyweight and flyweight, and a British title in between, he challenged for world honours behind closed doorways in April 2021, and turned in a masterclass to dethrone the long-serving IBF flyweight champion, Moruti Mthalane, in a landslide factors win.

‘Showtime’ hasn’t been seen within the UK since, as an alternative defending twice in Dubai.

The 26-year-old made a primary defence with a factors win in opposition to Jayson Mama final December, and he was final out in March, easing previous Muhammad Waseem in one other unanimous victory.

He now faces Alvarado (38-2, 33 KOs), an enormous puncher, who’s unbeaten in over eight years.

The 33-year-old’s final defeats got here back-to-back, dropping on the playing cards for the WBA gentle flyweight title in December 2013 to Kazuto Ioka, and he was then outscored by Juan Carlos Reveco for the WBA flyweight belt six months later.

Since then, ‘El Gemelo’ has solely been taken the gap twice in twenty contests, and he received the vacant IBF gentle flyweight crown in 2018.

He defended twice, after which moved as much as flyweight for his final struggle in Could, a fourth spherical knockout of Luis Cerrito Hernandez in his native Nicaragua.

Prediction: Edwards is on a roll, and is a tough man to pin down as soon as he’s in a rhythm. I believe Alvarado will attempt to catch Sunny chilly, however the Brit ought to stay elusive, and take a snug sufficient win on the scorecards.

Bateson meets Masoud

The undercard sees an intriguing battle for the WBA Intercontinental tremendous bantamweight title, as Jack Bateson defends in opposition to Shabaz Masoud. The competition additionally serves as an eliminator for the British title, at present held by Liam Davies.

Bateson (17-0, 4 KOs) has been one thing of a gradual burner, showing primarily on smaller reveals, however has excelled not too long ago changing into English champion and profitable his WBA belt in his final struggle, a call win over ten in opposition to Diego Alberto Ruiz.

Masoud (10-0, 3 KOs), who’s skilled by Ben Davison, is a stylist and in addition holds a ten spherical win over Ruiz, in November final 12 months.

Prediction: I lean in the direction of Masoud to take a factors win on this one.

Essomba battles Braithwaite

A closing eliminator for the British title takes place at tremendous flyweight, the place Thomas Essomba (11-7-1, 4 KOs) and Marcel Braithwaite (13-3) conflict over twelve rounds.

Essomba has been matched onerous as an expert, and has an excellent probability of some a lot wanted progress right here in opposition to former British title challenger Braithwaite.

Each males have beforehand been overwhelmed by Edwards.

Prediction: Essomba has an ideal engine, and may put on Braithwaite down within the later rounds.

Remaining Undercard

2020 Olympic gold medalist, Hebert Conceicao (2-0, 1 KO) involves Sheffield, and the middleweight ought to have an excessive amount of for Gideon Onyenani (4-1) in what needs to be a factors win after eight rounds.

Unbeaten Leeds-based middleweight, Ishmael Davis (9-0, 3 KOs) is in motion right here, and ‘The Black Panther’ ought to cope with Dustin Ammann (7-7, 5 KOs) on the scorecards after eight rounds.

Lisa Whiteside (4-0, 1 KO) will hope to kick on in 2023, and the tremendous bantamweight ought to take a large sufficient factors win in opposition to Eva Cantos (4-8-1, 1 KO) of their eight rounder.

The ultimate eight rounder is at tremendous light-weight, the place Levi Kinsiona (9-2, 1 KO) will probably want the gap to financial institution the win in opposition to Alin Florin Ciorceri (16-3, 7 KOs).

Jamaican-born tremendous middleweight, Nicolie Campbell (9-1, 2 KOs) can rating a stoppage win earlier than the tip of his six rounder with Frane Radnic (11-34, 10 KOs), whereas Khalid Ayub (3-0) can outscore Danail Stoyanov (3-13, 1 KO) over 4 at gentle heavyweight.

Bradley Cousins (3-1) also needs to want the gap to take a factors win in opposition to Genadij Krajevskij (0-41), additionally at gentle heavyweight.