Preview: Edwards set for Matchroom debut against undefeated Campos

IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards (19-0-0, 4KOs) makes the fourth defence of his world title on Saturday, three months on from signing with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing.

Chile’s Andres Campos (15-0-0, 4KOs) stands in the opposing corner at the Wembley Arena as he looks to kickstart his own career against one of the division’s standout talents

Edwards has barely put a foot wrong in his 19 outings so far and now has the promotional backing to assert his dominance at 115lbs with the likes of WBO champion Jesse Rodriguez and WBC king Julio Cesar Martinez also operating under the Matchroom banner.

Since dethroning Moruti Mthalane to claim the IBF belt in April 2021, the 27-year-old hasn’t yet been able to tie down the big names around him.

Edwards is looking to unify the flyweight division providing he defeats Campos this weekend. *Photo by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing.*

To his credit, Edwards has remained active and fought three times in 2022 – a rare occurrence for fighters operating at world level these days.

Edwards was unveiled as one of three new signings for Matchroom in March and, despite a tumultuous relationship in the past, he is confident teaming up with Hearn will lead to the big fights he has so long been calling for.

“He’s on the same side as me [Hearn]. He wants these fights to happen and he’s trying to make them happen”, Edwards told BBTV last month.

“With Eddie I can never get fed to the wolves – I am the wolf. I want everyone at this weight, the weight above and the weight above that.

“I’m willing to do everything I can for my career. If I don’t feel like I’m being listened to then I’ll make them listen to me.

“I’m making myself heard – Eddie probably has a handful of fighters on his roster that he wishes would do that and instead he has to do it for them.”

Both Edwards and Hearn have had their differences in the past but now share the same goal of securing the biggest fights possible. *Photo by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing.*

While the temptation is there to line Edwards up against the likes of Rodriguez and Martinez, he must first move past a hungry Campos who has the chance to change his own fortunes in the English capital this weekend.

Yet to taste defeat inside 15 contests, the Chilean cuts a difficult figure to read having primarily fought out of South America so far.

Edwards will not need reminding of the growing list of British fighters who have been upset by unknown figures from that area of the world however and will be eager to put on a show in his first fight since his new deal.

YouTube player — BBTV caught up with Edward two weeks out from his fight versus Campos.

The Undercard:

Saturday’s undercard also features two other world title offerings.

New Zealand’s Cherneka Johnson (15-1-0, 6KOs) makes the 9,500 mile journey from her home in Australia to defend her IBF super-bantamweight crown against Catford’s Ellie Scotney (6-0-0).

The fight was initially set to take place on the undercard of Chantelle Cameron versus Katie Taylor in May before the former requested the fight be removed due to past troubles with Scotney’s trainer Shane McGuigan.

While hardly ideal preparation for a fight of this magnitude, both fighters head into the bout in good form ahead of a big night this weekend.

Johnson has responded to a 2021 defeat to Shannon O’Connell by claiming the IBF strap in her next outing before making her first defence in October.

Scotney meanwhile claimed the European super-bantamweight title last time out against Spain’s Mary Romero over ten rounds – her first major title as a pro.

Johnson (left) and Scotney (right) come face-to-face for a final time before Saturday’s fight. *Photo by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing.*

Nina Hughes (5-0-0, 2KOs) also looks to make the first defence of her WBA bantamweight belt against late replacement Katie Healy (6-0-0).

Hughes was initially set to face former titleholder Shannon Courtenay before the latter withdrew from the fight last month.

The 40 year old claimed the title with a close-fought victory against Jamie Mitchell in Dubai last year.

Elsewhere on the card, Tokyo 2020 Olympian Cheavon Clarke (5-0-0, 4KOs) faces David Jamieson (10-2-0, 7KOs) in a final eliminator for Mikael Lawal‘s British cruiserweight title.

Popular heavyweight Johnny Fisher (8-0-0, 7KOs) takes on Puerto Rican Emilio Salas (7-4-1, 3KOs) over eight rounds and new signing Shannon Ryan (4-0-0) makes her Matchroom debut against Martina Bernile (5-1-1, 1KO) at super-flyweight.