Charlie Edwards believes that his brother Sunny has put his defeat by Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez behind him – but only after conquering the demons that that first defeat led to.
Sunny Edwards, 28, lost for the first time in December when he was stopped on an evening on which Rodriguez arguably produced the finest performance of his career to unify the IBF and WBO flyweight titles.
On Saturday, at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, so close to where Rodriguez-Edwards was staged, he will fight Mexico’s Adrien Curiel, and does so aware that after seeing Rodriguez return to super flyweight he can establish himself as the finest flyweight in the world.
Curiel, 25, was stopped by Sivenathi Nontshinga in February, having stopped the South African in November in his previous fight, and he therefore represents a proven opponent for Edwards to be returning against – and also one his older brother Charlie, having observed his psyche since then, believes he is ready to overcome.
Before the defeat by Rodriguez, Sunny Edwards perhaps even represented the world’s most confident active fighter, and asked how his confidence compared over six months on, Charlie Edwards responded: “He seems to be okay. He’s of the mindset that, ‘Bam’s one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world,’ and he showcased a lot. His grittiness and toughness; with one eye he still pushed through until the latter end of the fight, where really it probably should have been stopped a lot earlier. He pushed through – he went to that dark place and beyond that dark place.
“He’s took them positives from it. We all know Bam’s tremendous; he’s a great fighter. He knows the game inside-out. When you mix with the elite these things can happen. He’s still full of confidence and still feels like he’s one of the best.
“That’s why he took this fight against Curiel. He wanted a proper test; he wanted to be back on the big stage, and get back straight back to it, and that’s the best way. Get straight back on the horse, because if you don’t, it’s a harder route back. He believes he’s fought at a higher level than Curiel, so he feels this is the perfect fight for him to show, ‘I ain’t gone nowhere’.
“He’d only be human if [doubts] had crept in. Only Sunny will know that. He’s not the type of person to let anyone else know – he’s the type of person who holds his cards close to his chest. From what I’m seeing, whether he’s facing those voices – most probably, because humans are humans – but I haven’t seen no inkling that he’s doubting himself any second. It’s going to be interesting, because you’re only going to see how much it has affected him by the way he performs on Saturday night. But I believe he’s in a good place. He’s buzzing to be back. He loves boxing. He loves being an entertainer. He loves being on the shows. It’s the same mindset – win, lose or draw, he’s still in the biggest fights on the highest stage, and that’s what you’ve gotta respect him for.”
Unlike in December, Charlie Edwards will not be present, because he is in the U.K. with his trainer Stephen Smith preparing for a fight in the coming months. His training for his victory in April over Georges Ory was undermined by him suffering a cut that also prevented him from sparring his brother and being alongside him in his training camp, but after seeing Rodriguez prove himself one of the world’s very finest fighters and since been matched with Juan Francisco Estrada at the top of Saturday’s bill, he believes that the combination of victory for his brother and Rodriguez could even lift his brother’s reputation to a new high.
“If it goes that way, 100 per cent,” he said. “It’s gonna be a tough fight for Bam and Estrada. Estrada’s been there; done it all; experienced. He’s come into his peak years as a man. If Bam does a number on him, then Sunny’s reputation goes up even more, especially if he gets Estrada out of there earlier than he got Sunny out [in the ninth round]. If Bam wins, it’ll also line up a big fight between Estrada and my brother. When you take proper fights, you’re only one step away from another big fight.
“It was horrible [watching from ringside]. There’s a picture – Bam’s dropped him and he’s on his face, and there’s me with my head between my hands. It was a horrible fight to see. I see his eye [Sunny Edwards suffered a medial orbital fracture in his left eye] go early in the fight, and I see that was affecting him. It’s hard to say – I thought the tactics, early, wasn’t the normal Sunny you see. But he’s aware of that. He’s not going to go to prove a point again, and try and out-fight another dangerous opponent.
“We’ll see the old Sunny Edwards come back. From the go he was trying to stamp authority, and that wasn’t the Sunny Edwards who was going to beat Bam. When the eye went maybe he couldn’t see and adapt the tactics he had planned. I’m used to my brother dancing and moving and slipping and sliding and really making it hard work for anyone who’s coming at him. It was hard to watch.
“I’m always nervous when my brother fights and I always want the best for him. When I’ve spoken to him he seems to be flying and seems to be in a good place. It’s all positive. The comeback fight’s always one you need to watch, because you don’t really know how much it has affected a person until they do that ring walk, get in the ring, and the punches start flying.
“But I do believe the Sunny Edwards we all know will beat Curiel, and should beat him very well. Curiel’s the type of style that Sunny will shine on. Yeah, he’s dangerous. Yeah, he can punch – even though his record doesn’t suggest it. I believe Sunny will be boxing a clever game. This time round he’s going to be out there trying to show everyone who Sunny Edwards is; not standing in the pocket and trying to trade. [I predict a] unanimous points win.
“I’m looking forward to seeing him back; seeing him back on top; shining. It’s a big fight, and it shows what heart and balls he has as a fighter, because many fighters wouldn’t be taking this kind of fight in their first comeback fight after a defeat.”
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