This is the road to becoming a two-time world champion says Charlie Edwards

Charlie Edwards believes that his new set-up will pave the way to becoming world champion once again as he prepares to face Jacob Barreto on Friday’s massive #MTKFightNight event.

Former world champion Edwards (16-1, 6 KOs) meets Barreto (13-3, 5 KOs) as part of a huge card at York Hall in London, which is headlined by an IBF featherweight title final eliminator between Isaac Lowe and Luis Alberto Lopez, and will be broadcast live in the US on ESPN+ in association with Top Rank, and worldwide on IFL TV.

It sees Edwards make his return for the first time in over a year, and after teaming up with new trainer Joe Gallagher at his gym in Bolton, the ex-WBC flyweight king feels he is better than ever.

Edwards said:“I was umming and ahhing about whether I would return or whether I wouldn’t. I had achieved my boyhood dream by becoming world champion, but as soon as I walked into the doors at Joe Gallagher’s gym, the whole buzz was back.

“It really brought me back to life and brought my motivation and hunger back. I’m firing on all cylinders again mentally, physically and emotionally, and now moving forward all that is on my mind is winning another world title.

“I’m looking forward to this next stage in my career. I’ve been training hard and grafting and living the life of an elite athlete. Eat, sleep, train, repeat. It’s been an amazing camp, and an even better camp than when I won the world title against Rosales.

“I’m on fire and sparring has gone great. I’ve been sparring Paul Butler, Kash Farooq, and even had some good super-lightweights in for sparring, so anything that Barreto has I’ll be better on the night.

“I’m coming back fresh with a new coach, a new team and a new set-up, and this really is the road to becoming a two-time world champion.”

Elsewhere on Friday’s card, Jordan Reynolds faces Blaise Paka Mukia, Elliot Whale takes on Miroslav Serban, Shiloh Defritas squares off with Dario Barrosa, Carl Fail meets Juan Carlos Clavero, Inder Bassi goes up against Vasif Mamedov, Nina Hughes enters the paid ranks for the first time against Claudia Ferenczi, and Arnold Obodai makes his professional debut.

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‘THE EAGLE’ CHARLIE EDWARDS FEELS REVITALISED AFTER MIGRATION TO PORTUGAL

‘THE EAGLE’ Charlie Edwards has migrated to Portugal and believes his new nest in the Algarve is the ideal base as he plots his flight to the top of the super-flyweight division.

The former WBC World Flyweight champion Edwards, 28, moved to Vilamoura with his wife Kristin and their baby daughter Sofia last month.Charlie jumped two weights to Bantamweight for his Queensberry debut last September when he outpointed Kyle Williams but is planning an attack on the 115lb Super-flyweight division when he returns to action.

Charlie said: “This is the first time in 17 years that I have taken two months off completely. It has given me a new drive, new hunger and new ambition.

“I am training now and going to start more boxing training so I can get my flow back.

“This journey is going to excite me even more. Right now, I am in a very good place and I’m looking forward to getting back in.

“My plan is to have a tough ten or twelve rounder for an International title when I return and then kick on.

“I have been back punching, doing little bits, strength work and feel revitalised. I have lost nothing.

“It has been nice to reset myself and move to a country where I feel happy and confident in myself again.

“The plan is to stay here in Portugal. My Missus and I have decided to move the family here. We want our daughter to grow up in a nice environment.

“Becoming a Dad has been challenging. Being locked down in England wasn’t the best thing for us so coming out here has me happy and thriving.

“Once our house has been sorted, which will be sooner rather than later, I can push on with my career.”

Edwards revealed he has left the Steel City gym in Sheffield where he was trained by Grant Smith and will do most of his training in Portugal.

He will either base himself in England or the United States for the final eight weeks of camp.

He explained: “I have a number of ideas and thoughts in my head and I am not going to rush. I have a friend who trains coming out here to get me fight fit.

“I have achieved all that I have set out to achieve on my career bucket list in the UK so I would like to train here, set up my own gym and eight weeks before a fight I may go to America.

“I also have another British coach in mind who I do want to try out in the UK but I don’t want to go into details yet.”

Edwards (16-1, 6KOs) admits he suffered mentally with the stresses of getting down to Flyweight and the Croydon man relinquished his World title shortly after a no-contest against Julio Cesar Martinez in August 2019.

He said: “I have left the dark days behind me. I suffered a little bit especially around the Martinez fight – making Flyweight and putting my health on the line.

“I wasn’t enjoying it and fell into a bit of depression with the boxing side of things through having to make that light weight.

“I came out of the other side and it was still a challenge getting through to my next fight which was my Frank Warren debut.

“I got through that, won every round, jumping two weights to Bantamweight and now I’m in Portugal I feel happy, revitalised and like the old Charlie Edwards where I can dedicate myself.

“When I do get back I will go away, focus and reach the top levels again.”
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CHARLIE EDWARDS SIGNS FOR QUEENSBERRY PROMOTIONS

FORMER WBC World Flyweight champion Charlie Edwards has signed a multi-fight deal with Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren.

He joins brother Sunny in the Queensberry Promotions camp and believes it’s only a matter of time before ‘The Croydon Klitschkos’ are fighting in world title contests on the same bill.

Edwards, 27, said: “I was with Eddie Hearn for six years and I needed to freshen things up. I feel this is the next chapter of my career.

“I have seen what Frank has done for my brother Sunny. He has done very well for him from the start.

“Frank really looks after his fighters as well. I felt I was taken for granted and I am looking forward to getting started with Frank as my promoter.

“I have chatted to Frank at Sunny’s fights and the timing was right.  My management MTK sorted the deal, my adviser thought it was best for me and the offer is great.”

Edwards (15-1, 6KOs) will be moving up from Flyweight to either Bantamweight or Super-Flyweight where he is ranked number two by the WBC in their world rankings.

Charlie vacated his WBC world crown after being severely weight-drained for his defence against Julio Cesar Martinez last August that ended in a no-contest.

He added: “The next fight is likely to be a gage to see where I’m at regarding my best weight. The main thing is keeping my world ranking at Super-Flyweight for now.

“I look at the Bantamweight champions. I’m not deluded and say,  ‘I’m world level’ at that weight because that would be stupid.

“If I go to Bantamweight I wont be rushing to get in with world level fighters. It will be building up over a few fights.

“I have Frank behind me and he is not going to chuck me in at the deep end. It’s going to be building into the world title picture.”

Edwards insists he is more than happy to box on one of the behind closed doors extravaganzas Warren has planned this summer.

His big hope is to fight on the same bill as his brother Sunny, who also has serious world title aspirations at Super-Flyweight.

Charlie who trains alongside his brother under Grant Smith in Sheffield said: “Just mentioning me and my brother fighting for world titles on the same bill gives a tingle down my spine.

“I did a bucket list some time ago. Sunny and myself fighting on the same show has always been there. That was another thing that made it perfect sense to join Frank because it can happen.

“We still try to outdo each other when we train. That is the beauty of it. We’re brothers, we have ultimate love and want the best for each other.

“We want to beat each other whether we’re sparring or on the track. We have progressed because we always push each other.”

Warren said: “I am absolutely delighted that Charlie has joined our team and we will work out a plan for him to become a two weight world champion.

“We have often spoke at my shows when Sunny has been boxing. We always got on well and shared a joke.

“The two brothers fighting for world titles on the same show isn’t a pipe-dream. We deliver and It is a realistic prospect.”

Charlie turned professional in January 2015. In his fifth fight he won the English Flyweight title against Louis Norman and two fights later added the WBC International Silver championship.

In September 2016 he fell short against high class Filipino John Riel Casimero in a IBF Flyweight title challenge, his only professional defeat.

Seven months later, Edwards outpointed Iain Butcher to become British Super-Flyweight champion, a crown now held by his younger brother, Sunny.

Charlie upset defending champion Cristofer Rosales on points to become WBC Flyweight title holder in December 2018. He made one successful defence three months later in a points decision against Angel Moreno.
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