There was nothing but respect between flyweight contenders Sunny Edwards and Galal Yafai at today’s final press conference ahead of their fight on Saturday.
They meet at the Resorts World Arena in the Matchroom main event with Olympic gold medal winner Yafai, 8-0 (6 KOs), taking a step up against come-backing former world champion Edwards, who is 21-1 (4 KOs).
Edwards and Yafai boxed as amateurs and have sparred dozens of rounds since.
“It’s a good fight,” said Edwards. “I know Galal’s a good fighter and I’ve had a lot going on that everyone wants to speak about and the questions of where I was training and who I was training with.”
Edwards had not agreed to work with a trainer at the time he agreed to the fight, having parted ways with Grant Smith, but added: “I’ve knuckled down and done everything that’s been asked of me. I’m excited about the fight. The problem with this fight for the whole showbiz and, you know, the entertainment side of it, is I actually really like Galal. I think he’s a great fighter, someone that we’ve delt with away from the cameras for hundreds of hours, sparring or being on [Team] GB, at the same time. We’ve been around each other.
“I think I’m better but he thinks he’s better. That’s why we’re here to decide and find out. That’s what’s so exciting.
“I know, when me and Galal get in a small space, there are fireworks. It’s always been good work. It always will be. We will probably be here again.”
Asked how he might win, the usually defensively astute former champion said he might be more attack-minded in Birmingham, Yafai’s hometown.
“If you take a look at any of my wins on my record, they’re all pretty much the same way. So yeah, probably that way,” he explained. “But at the same time, I’m in a stage now where I do opt and prefer to stand and trade a little bit more and let my hands go. I’ll be real. When I go on the back foot for 12 rounds, I can’t even watch that fight back. I get bored watching it. My favorite fight of my whole career is the fight I lost [to Jesse Rodriguez] because it had the most action in it, so I’m looking forward to an action-packed fight.”
Yafai was equally courteous on stage, and when the pair faced-off they shook hands and went their separate ways.
“It’s a massive fight. Sunny’s a great fighter, he’s a former world champion, he’s good name and it’s great to have it in Birmingham and I’m looking forward to Saturday,” said Yafai.
Yesterday, there was a brief skirmish between Edwards’ brother, Charlie, and Yafai’s brothers, Kal and Gamal, but it did not amount to much.
“Not too much, but it’s good for the people watching,” Yafai added. “Not too much, but for the British fans. It gets people interested and it’s not what I’m used to. I’m used to going to America and fighting unknown Mexicans, but I’m fighting someone that everyone rates, everyone knows, and we’ll see who the better man is. I know Sunny inside out. I know what he does.”
Yafai also believes he wins.
“Of course,” he said. “I wouldn’t take the fight if I wasn’t confident.”
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