Galal Yafai will hope to keep up his winning streak as he prepares to fight Sunny Edwards at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, England on November 30th. The Saturday night boxing spectacle will reward the winner with the Interim WBC Flyweight Title.
Edwards lost the IBF Flyweight belt in December, so he will be keen on reclaiming another international title. But can he get the better of Yafai, who will fight in front of his hometown crowd? Here’s our Edwards vs Yafai prediction.
Contents
Tale of the tape
Galal Yafai made his professional debut in 2021 and has steadily climbed the ranks since then.
The 31-year-old boasts an undefeated record of 8-0 with six knockouts. He has knocked out three opponents in his last four fights, most recently defeating Agustin Gauto in April and Sergio Oliva in September, keeping his perfect 2024 run intact.
Sunny Edwards became the IBF Flyweight World Champion in 2021 by defeating Moruti Mthalane. He successfully defended the title four times before facing Jesse Rodriguez in a unification bout last year, but suffered his first career loss when he was stopped.
Edwards bounced back with a win over Adrian Curiel in June and now returns to the UK for his first fight in England since June of the previous year.
Edwards vs Yafai hot tip: Edwards to win by decision
This fight pits two highly comparable fighters against each other.
That being said, we believe this fight will ultimately be decided by experience. While Yafai has an impeccable record till now, he has yet to face an opponent of Edwards' calibre. Edwards, still performing at the peak of his career, enters this bout as the favourite.
Yafai should still put up a good fight, but we back Edwards to win this on points.
Edwards vs Yafai: Key stats
- Sunny Edwards comes to the fight with a record of 21 wins, one loss, and 0 draws, including four knockouts. Galal Yafai, on the other hand, has won all eight fights he has been in so far.
- Stats suggest Yafai is the strongest puncher between the two as he has a knockout ratio of 75 percent, while Edwards’ knockout ratio is 19 percent.
- Edwards is one inch taller than Yafai, but Yafai makes up for it with a notable eight inch reach advantage.
Fight odds and win probability
Here are the current Edwards vs Yafai odds:
Sunny Edwards: 5/6 (1.83) – Implied probability 54.6%
Galal Yafai: 5/4 (2.25) – Implied probability 44.4%
Draw: 14/1 (15.00) – Implied probability 6.7%
*Edwards vs Yafai betting odds from Betfred, subject to change.
Keys to victory
Yafai brings impressive power and reach to the table. That means, Yafai can pounce on the opportunity when Edwards attempts to close the gap.
However, Edwards has dealt with higher-level competition as a pro and is three years younger than Yafai. Though Edwards isn’t known for heavy punches, his power should not be dismissed.
This is a hard one to predict, as both men have proven they can take a punch, despite Edwards having been stopped before. It promises to be an action-packed fight, and while it could swing either way, we are giving the edge to Edwards.
Sunny Edwards: Defend early, strike later
Edwards is a sly and slippery presence inside the ring, thanks to his defensive technique. In his last fight, the former IBF champion showcased his speed and finesse against ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, but ultimately suffered a defeat, losing his IBF title in the process.
Edwards can expect better results with the same approach when he fights Yafai. He can make use of his nimble footwork to neutralise Yafai’s reach advantage. He will look to tire out Yafai, who has only fought two fights till the distance. The three year age advantage should come to play here, with Edwards dominating the later rounds.
Galal Yafai: Utilise the physical advantage
Yafai is the older of the two and has fewer fights on his record. Known for his aggressive, high-pressure style, he’s made a name for himself by overwhelming opponents with his power and securing knockouts.
Yafai has shown that he has a solid chin. Also, he has a significant weight and reach advantage over his upcoming opponent. Yafai should try to exploit his weak punching and take a more aggressive stance. He must break down Edwards’ resilience with relentless pressure and power.
If he can assault from the start, he might be able to win this fight.
Bren is our resident Kiwi, and has been playing or watching sports down under in New Zealand for the better part of three decades. With 12+ years experience as a professional writer, Bren loves to dive deep into all things sport to bring the best betting analysis and predictions here at Mr Fixits Tips.
