Sunny Edwards’ trainer Chris Williams has been praised for his corner work during the flyweight’s defeat to Galal Yafai.
Edwards suffered a devastating loss to long-term British rival Yafai in their flyweight clash in Birmingham, as he was stopped in the sixth round after a consistent onslaught.
Edwards claimed he didn’t want to be in the ring in the second round[/caption]
Yafai had seized the initiative from the opening bell and was unloading dangerous and persistent barrages on Edwards, who decided to incredibly retire from the sport after the outcome was confirmed.
He had looked dejected as he trudged to his corner at the end of the second round, and looked visibly emotional as he sat on his stool.
Edwards then incredibly remarked in a rare boxing moment: “Do you want me to be real with you? I don’t even want to be here.”
His trainer handled the situation well, replying: “Don’t be f***ing stupid lad. Listen, stop feeling f***ing sorry for yourself right now.
“Stop feeling sorry for yourself because you have had one f***ing bad round.”
It certainly inspired Edwards for a period as he bit down his gumshield and began to try and match Yafai for output.
He managed to cling on and survive, but it ultimately wasn’t enough.
On the latest episode of talkBOXING, former boxer Oliver insisted Williams deserves praise not criticism for his role on fight night.
“Chris Williams his trainer there did an unbelievable job,” Oliver said.
“It’s at what stage of the fight that happened, it was only at the end of round two.
“He needed a kick up the a**, that is way too early to pull him out there.
“If he had done that the s**t he would have got from that would have been insane.
“The trainer did a good job.”
Current British light-heavyweight Anthony Yarde added: “I can only know if he should have pulled him out, if I know Sunny as a person.
“It could have been a situation where he could have pulled him out and ruined his life.
“Nah, let him take his beating, he’s done all of the talking. It would have been an injustice if he pulled him out, let it happen.”
Edwards suggested the defeat ultimately would be his final bow in the ring, a decision he had made before even stepping beyond the ropes.
At the peak of his powers, Edwards reigned as an IBF flyweight world champion, a remarkable feat for a British fighter.
But he was ultimately dethroned by power-punching prodigy Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez in a unification clash in December 2023.
Despite an initial positive return to the ring against Adrian Curiel in June, Edwards admitted his love for the sport detriorated.
Yafai now has the keys to the division in terms of British contenders, and will look to cash in on his new status as a WBC interim champion in the coming months.
