Sunny Edwards vs Muhammad Waseem – Results & Post-Fight Report

Sunny Edwards made a second successful defence of his IBF flyweight title, as he overcame Muhammed Waseem via unanimous decision at the Duty Free Tennis Centre in Dubai.

Edwards won the belt in April last year, with a masterful dethroning of Moruti Mthalane in London, and backed that up with a dominant points win over Jayson Mama in Dubai in December.

Edwards was on the front foot from the off last night, getting off first and landing the telling punches in the first three rounds to build a decent lead on the cards. Edwards was in a relaxed rhythm, and Waseem was struggling to get to grips with the champion, who was lading with long, raking punches that the challenger was struggling to see.

Waseem was deducted a point for holding, and another in the seventh for use of the head as his challenge was petering out, and despite his best efforts, he just couldn’t pin Edwards down as the fight entered the championship rounds. ’Showtime’ Edwards stuck to his task, staying out of trouble, and Waseem just couldn’t land any significant blows as the fight went to the cards.

Two scores of 115-111, and a third at 116-110 ensured the Croydon native kept his title.

Chief support came from former super lightweight world champion Regis Prograis, and the American dropped Ireland’s Tyrone McKenna in round two on the way to a sixth round stoppage in what was an eliminator for the WBC title. A massive left hand decked McKenna in round two, and he bravely stayed in contention until the sixth, where Prograis uncorked a multitude of punches, and with McKenna’s right eye cut, the doctor ruled him out of the fight.

Former world champion TJ Doheny returned to form after three defeats in his last four outings, and the Irishman scored a second round stoppage off Cesar Juarez at featherweight. A massive left hook as Suarez came forwards dropped the Mexican in round two, and on the resumption after Suarez survived the count, he was flat out, and Doheny continued his assault until the referee had seen enough.

Peter McGrail continued his professional education, and the Liverpudlian super bantamweight forced Alexandra Ionita to retire after the second frame of their scheduled six rounder.

Hovhannes Bachkov scored another stoppage win, this time an eighth round halting of Cristian Rafael Coria at super lightweight. Bachkov was dominant, and he put together a flurry of spiteful punches that forced the referee’s intervention.

Faizan Anwar took a landslide points win at lightweight against Khojiakbar Quodirokhunov. Two scores of 80-72 and a third at 78-74 ensured Anwar remained unbeaten.

At super featherweight, Fahad Al Bloushi took a six round points win over Mohamed Kashinde. Scores of 59-56, 58-56 and 59-58 took victory.

Bader Samreen stopped Denis Bartos in four at lightweight and at cruiserweight, Jamie King dropped Naveen Verma in the third on the way to a four round points win.