On June 29, SUNNY EDWARDS is set to make his comeback to America for his upcoming fight.
In an attempt to regain their winning streaks, the 28-year-old British fighter will be pitted against Mexico’s Adrian Curiel in a flyweight match.
The Edwards vs. Curiel bout secures the chief support position for the main event between Jesse Rodriguez and Juan Francisco Estrada at the Footprint Centre in Phoenix, Arizona.
In December of last year, Edwards found himself in Arizona, defending his IBF world flyweight title in a unification match against Rodriguez, the WBO champion. The anticipation surrounding their bout was immense, but it ultimately turned into a demonstration of Rodriguez’s skill, despite Edwards’ promising start. As the ninth round came to a close, Edwards’ corner made the decision to withdraw him from the fight, protecting him from any additional punishment.
After Edwards’ victory, he contemplated a move to the light-flyweight division. His goal was to challenge Sivenathi Nonthshinga, his fellow Matchroom stable-mate, for the IBF title at 108lbs.
Speaking to Boxing News after his first defeat Edwards said, “I know I can make it (light-flyweight) comfortably. It’s where I could drop down and look to fight. I don’t need tick-overs. Put me straight back in the deep end and I’ll go again.”
If the opportunity to face WBO champion Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez in June doesn’t come through, Nontshinga is aiming to bring together the division for a unification bout. Alternatively, he might defend his title against Cristian Araneta, whom he previously defeated in April 2021.
In February, Curiel, with a record of 24-5-1 (5), experienced a loss in a rematch against Nontshinga. Despite his impressive second-round knockout victory over “The Special One” in their previous fight in Monte Carlo in November, a rematch clause allowed Nontshinga to have another opportunity against Curiel.
On their second encounter in Mexico, the two individuals crossed paths again. However, after enduring ten intense rounds, Curiel faced defeat in his initial defense of the IBF light-flyweight championship. Despite withstanding relentless waves of pressure, Nontshinga managed to discover an opportunity and triumphantly concluded the match by overpowering the 25-year-old opponent.
If Edwards emerges as the winner on June 29, there is a possibility of another chance to compete for a world title. Alternatively, he could opt for a domestic clash against Galal Yafai, an undefeated boxer who is also associated with Matchroom.
