Sunny Edwards is now on the verge of claiming a new title, a date with the sport’s pound-for-pound queen and a future fight versus a modern-day legend all with a win in his next fight.
The reigning IBF flyweight titlist continues to raise the stakes for his already high-risk, high-reward IBF/WBO title unification bout versus Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez. The latest to pick against the unbeaten Brit is former four-division champion Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez, a promotional stablemate of Rodriguez who has picked the San Antonio native to prevail in their anticipated showdown later this year.
Edwards has turned the doubt into an opportunity.
“After I beat Bam I’ll bring Chocolatito to the UK for the lads,” Edwards claimed, after having previously sought a commitment from Gonzalez, who is now receptive to the idea.
Edwards-Rodriguez will headline a December 16 DAZN show from Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. The same venue saw Nicaragua’s Gonzalez (51-4, 41KOs) fall just short in his rubber match versus lineal and WBC junior bantamweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada last December 3.
Gonzalez has not fought since then, though promoter Eddie Hearn previously mentioned to Boxing Scene his desire to match the legendary Nicaraguan versus the winner of Edwards-Rodriguez. Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing promotes Edwards, co-promotes Rodriguez along with Mr. Honda’s Teiken Promotions with whom Matchroom has also worked with Gonzalez for his past five fights.
Edwards (20-0, 4KOs)—a Croydon, London native now based out of Sheffield—has already arranged a friendly bet with two-time Olympic Gold medalist and three-division champion Claressa Shields regarding the outcome of the fight. Shields picked Rodriguez to win but agreed to allow Edwards to take her out to eat should the Brit prevail.
His persistent effort has now landed a potential blockbuster showdown versus Gonzalez, who has openly agreed to face Edwards in what would mark his first career fight in jolly old England.
“Bam Rodriguez will win but I would love to visit the beautiful UK. God bless. #TeamTeiken,” Gonzalez insisted.
“So when he doesn’t, we have a deal,” Edwards asked in response.
“Deal. God Bless,” insisted Gonzalez.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox