Emotional Sunny Edwards reflects on shock retirement at age 28 following Galal Yafai loss

Modified Dec 01, 2024 10:30 GMT

Sunny Edwarsd (pictured) shares emotional words after retiring from boxing at 28 years old [Image courtesy: Getty Images] — Sunny Edwards (pictured) shares emotional words after retiring from boxing at 28 years old [Image courtesy: Getty Images]

Sunny Edwards has called time on his boxing career at just 28 years old after suffering a TKO loss to Galal Yafai on Nov. 30. The former IBF world champion admitted that the competitive edge needed to keep him at the top level had dwindled over the past year or so.

'Showtime' suffered the first defeat of his professional career against Jesse Rodriguez in December 2023.

With Edwards having been confronted with that stark reality, as well as having spent 20 years of his life dedicated to the 'sweet science', it appears that the London native is eager to move on with his life.

He appeared at the post-fight press conference and shared an emotional reflection on his decision to lay down his gloves, saying:

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"I'm touching 20 years in a boxing career, a professional now for about 8, and I've been busy... It's absorbed my life, my happiness, my effort, my time spent. I've missed so many sports days, I've missed so many firsts of my kid's life to do this."

He continued:

"I had to miss two or three weeks of training this camp because I couldn't walk. Sparring, I did my left ankle two weeks later... I've really enjoyed everything boxing has offered me so far... People don't really realize how happy I've been to be here... I always thought I would be and could be one of the best in the world. But seeing the flyweight division roll into growing into something... The same spark that has helped me walk through fire, walk through anything infront of me, I didn't feel it."

Catch Sunny Edwards' comments below (0:35):

Sunny Edwards retires in the ring after Galal Yafai defeat

One of the biggest fights of Britain's boxing calendar for 2024 featured an interim WBC title clash between former IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards and Olympic gold medalist Galal Yafai.

Yafai asserted himself from the opening bell, and had his opponent in trouble several times in the early going. 'Showtime' could be heard telling his corner after Round 2 that he had no desire to be in the ring, an admission that did not sit well with fans.

Edwards suffered a sixth-round TKO loss, after which he retired in the ring, saying: