Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Charlie Edwards prepares to fight the dangerous Sikho Nkothole in the IBF super-flyweight final eliminator in London on Friday.
After becoming the WBC Flyweight World Champion in 2018, Edwards never relinquished his title in the ring as he chose to vacate the belt in October 2019 to move up in weight.
After losing to Andrew Cain for the second time in his professional career last year, he bounced back with a win over Salvador Juarez, setting up a showdown against Nkothole on Friday.
The 33-year-old star said about the possibility of becoming a champion again Sky Sports: “It would mean the world to me, maybe more than the first time because they say it’s hard to get to the top of a mountain once but believe me, it’s even harder to get there twice.
“I had to climb a very long ladder, step by step, to get back to this point. It was hard to be pushed aside, belittled and disrespected.
“So, for me, it probably means more than the first time. It means the world to me and my family. I’ve worked very, very hard. I can pat myself on the back for being consistent, not giving up and having the faith to come back here.”
Despite currently living in Portugal with his wife and daughter, Edwards still trains with former fighter Stephen Smith from the UK.
The Brit has previously worked with some famous trainers in Grant Smith and Joe Gallagher, but the former world champion reserved special praise for his latest mentor.
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Edwards’ only defense of his WBC flyweight world title was against Angel Moreno
“Training has been great. It’s been the best camp we’ve had together so far. In this camp we’ve really focused on thinking about ourselves, training ourselves and being the best Charlie Edwards we can be without worrying too much about the opponent,” he said.
“I took a chance with Stephen because I was his first major championship fighter. But I had full faith that he would deliver what he has done so far and we are improving.
“I wasn’t as obsessed with my opponent as I was in previous fights. I think I showed a lot more respect to my previous opponent and I learned how good I am. I know how good I am now.
“We just keep improving. I’m firing on all cylinders and I’m ready to put on a career-best performance.”
Edwards now trains under Stephen Smith
Nkothole is not a household name, but he is experienced and with 13 knockouts in 21 wins, his record suggests he carries power.
Despite South Africa’s three defeats in pro games, Edwards is refusing to get complacent.
“He’s a good fighter. I think anyone in the top 10 is a good fighter. He’s a bit taller than me, has longer arms, hits hard but then everybody hits hard at world level,” he said.
“I only got seven knockouts, but I hit hard and got respect from my opponent. He’s going to challenge me out there and I believe our styles will go well together. I really believe he suits me on the ground. I believe it will be a career-best performance from me.”
Edwards last won the world title in 2019
Willibaldo Garcia Perez is scheduled to defend his IBF super-flyweight world title against Andrew Moloney on June 6 in Aichi, Japan.
Should Edwards win on Friday, he wants to fight the winner and is adamant he won’t back down.
“We’re going down the IBF route, that’s where we’re going to push for the fight. I know Bam Rodriguez is saying he’s going to come back but he’s fighting for a WBA world title at bantamweight and they’re also talking about Nawa Inoue,” he said.
“My main goal is to get through Shikoh and then take my manager straight to the IBF. The mandatory challenger and the champion have to agree to a fight within 90 days. No matter how much money Eddie Hearn tries to raise, if they want to go down, I won’t take it. I want the world title, and I believe that anyone at super-flyweight can be I-weight.”
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
A look at some of pound-for-pound superstar Naoya Inoue’s best knockouts
Edwards, who has ADHD, dyslexia and mild autism, has been open about sharing her mental health struggles in the past.
After winning his first world title at the age of 25, he now, at 33, believes he is in a better position to handle the pressure of being on top of the world.
“I feel very mature now. I’m a veteran of this game. I’ve been at the top for a long time, and I’ve learned a lot from my past experiences throughout my career,” he explained.
Edwards is entering the twilight of his career
“I’ve been sober for four years now. It was the best decision I’ve ever made, changed my life completely. When I was world champion, the pressure of being world champion was very real.
“I have become a man. I was 25 when I was world champion, people forget that I was very young. I went through many bad cycles but for which I am grateful because they taught me the most valuable lessons.
“I’m a man with experience now and I understand the game. I’m not naive anymore and it’s just business. I’m in a good place where I’m very fresh and I’m ready to go into my best and best years.”
