Sunny Edwards believes Saturday’s WBC interim flyweight contest against Galal Yafai is on another level because of the feud between the two families.
The two men meet in Birmingham with the winner vying for a shot against WBC champion Kenshiro Teraji in 2025.
This is a rematch that took almost a decade after they fought as amateurs in 2015, with Edwards winning by split decision.
Edwards has since won and lost the IBF flyweight title, while Yafai competed in the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. win gold at the latter.
Both come from fighting families, with Edwards’ brother Charlie previously holding the WBC flyweight belt, while Yafai’s brothers Kal and Gamal were WBA super-flyweight and European super-bantamweight champions respectively.
“I still represent the family name, but as there is another well thought out, built and reputable name in the Yafai, of course that makes it bigger,” Edwards told BBC Sport.
Despite the tensions between their siblings, with Charlie and Kal being involved in several public conflicts, Sunny and Galal’s relationship has always been respectful.
“It would be wrong now to hate each other, insult each other and go back and forth,” Yafai told BBC Sport.
“We argued a lot and every time we saw each other it was respectful.
“My brothers are probably a little different, they can be a little aggressive sometimes. You see Gamal and Charlie going back and forth every now and then. I think I’m a little too laid back for that.”
“I am an Olympic champion, he can’t be” – Yafai
Birmingham’s Yafai hopes to extend his perfect record to nine wins when he faces Edwards at BP Pulse Live.
This is his first time competing in his hometown since a first-round stoppage victory over Tommy Frank in August 2023.
“I love fighting in my hometown, I love fighting in the UK,” Yafai said.
“It’s good to go to America and fight in New York, Madison Square Garden and Las Vegas, but there’s nothing better than fighting at home and this is definitely home for this fight.”
But life could have turned out very differently for the 31-year-old.
Yafai, despite being an avid fan of boxing from a young age, only began learning the trade in his late teens and almost decided to walk away from the sport as he struggled to reconcile training and work.
“I worked in the Land Rover factory in Solihull,” Yafai said.
“I always dreamed of boxing for Great Britain at the Olympics and I went on to do it twice, it’s surreal now that I think about it.
“It was difficult to balance work and boxing and I was at a stage where I was going to quit because it was becoming too much, but luckily I persevered and the rest is history.”
After failing to win a medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Yafai won Tokyo gold at the Covid-19 delayed Games in 2021 – just four months after Edwards became world champion.
“There’s one thing I have over Sunny: I’m an Olympic champion, he can’t be,” Yafai said.
“He was world champion but I can be world champion. I can be both but he can only be one.”
“One defeat can make or break a fighter” – Edwards
Edwards was never a knockout artist or power hitter – only four of his 21 victories came at distance – but his flamboyant style won him many admirers.
The 28-year-old quickly rose through the ranks after turning professional and won the IBF flyweight belt by beating Moruti Mthalane to take his unbeaten record to 16.
After four successive defenses, Edwards tasted defeat for the first time when attempting to unify against WBO champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez in December 2023.
Edwards has since bounced back by defeating Adrian Curiel in June.
“The level I lost at was very high,” Edwards said.
“A loss can make or break a fighter, but I think it depends on where he is in his life.
“As fighters, we try to balance our lives and careers to get the best opportunity when we step into the ring. I’ve always been waiting for this fight with Galal and I’m going to make the most of this opportunity.”
