Another new player is in the boxing arena.

FUBOTV.com is working with Probellum and this weekend gets an intriguing flyweight contest between two of the best in the division. It’s the main event of a show in Dubai that will also feature the return of Jr. welterweight Regis Prograis.

Waseem is receiving his second title shot after an earlier loss to Moruti Mthalane in just his ninth start. Waseem has won four in a row to earn this second chance. Edwards is attempting his second defense of the IBF title he took with a clever performance against Mthalane and returns in an interesting moment for the division.

Edwards’ chief rival at flyweight, WBC titlist Julio Cesar Martinez, attempted a move up the scale only to take a beating at the hands of the great Roman Gonzalez. Can Edwards make a statement?  

Let’s get into it. 

Stats and Stakes

Sunny Edwards

Age: 26

Titles: IBF Flyweight (2021-Present, 1 Defense)

Previous Titles: None

Height: 5’3   

Weight: 111 ¼ lbs.

Stance: Orthodox/Southpaw

Hails from: Croydon, London, United Kingdom 

Record: 17-0, 4 KO

Press Rankings: #1 (BoxRec), #2 (TBRB), #3 (Ring, ESPN)

Record in Major Title Fights: 2-0

Last Five Opponents: 90-9-2 (.901)

Notable Outcomes, TBRB/Ring Rated Foes: Moruti Mthalane UD12

Additional Current/Former Titlists Faced: None

Vs.

Muhammad Waseem

Age: 34

Titles/Previous Titles: None 

Height: 5’6   

Weight: 111 ¾ lbs.

Stance: Orthodox

Hails from: Quetta, Pakistan

Record: 12-1, 8 KO

Press Rankings: #7 (TBRB), #10 (BoxRec)

Record in Major Title Fights: 0-1

Last Five Opponents: 119-25 (.826)

Notable Outcomes, TBRB and/or Ring Rated Foes: Moruti Mthalane L12

Additional Current/Former Titlists Faced: Ganigan Lopez UD8

The Pick: Boxing fans tune in to watch what happens when fists land. This is a fight where the feet might be the real story. Waseem has a decent jab and some pop, but he can also be flat footed and against Edwards it could matter. Edwards has no problem boxing on the fly, switching from southpaw to orthodox and releasing awkward bursts of offense. Edwards isn’t a big puncher and doesn’t pretend to be. For Waseem to win, he has to find Edwards and force him to stand still more than the titlist will want to. Waseem may have some moments but the thinking here is he won’t have enough. In what could at times be an interesting technical clash, look for Edwards to be too elusive and just accurate enough on offense to keep his roll going at flyweight. ;

Additional Weekend Pick

Kenshiro Teraji Dec Masamichi Yabuki             

Rold Picks 2022: 9-4

Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, a member of the International Boxing Research Organization, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com