Edwards outworks Essomba to become European champion

Charlie Edwards took a affirmative measurement towards securing a world-title changeable aft dethroning European bantamweight champion Thomas Essomba pinch a points triumph astatine London's York Hall.

An emphatic points determination for nan Englishman did not show nan afloat communicative of a adjacent fight.

Edwards outworked Essomba for overmuch of nan 12 rounds, but nan Cameroonian landed much of nan powerfulness shots, specifically his near hook.

Speaking aft his win, Edwards called retired Liverpudlian Paul Butler and said he would for illustration to conflict immoderate of nan Japanese world champions.

"Thomas is simply a tricky operator," Edwards said.

"I'm a world champion, I want to conflict champions. I've sewage options everywhere. All nan champions are successful Japan. I'd for illustration to spell retired there."

Edwards picks up nan 20th triumph of his profession arsenic he looks to go a two-weight champion successful nan adjacent 12 months.

The Sutton-born combatant held nan WBC flyweight title from 2018 to 2019 but vacated it, citing issues pinch making nan 112lb weight.

After 19 months of inactivity, he has now won 3 times successful nan past 15 months.

Edwards described nan conflict arsenic a "personal" 1 for him, arsenic his relative Sunny is Essomba's manager.

Sunny, wearing a floor-length fur coat, applauded some fighters arsenic they entered nan ring.

The erstwhile IBF champion decided against being successful Essomba's corner, but stuck adjacent to his combatant arsenic nan introductions were made.

And he trim a tense fig passim nan contest, arsenic Edwards built up an early lead done nan first 5 rounds.

Essomba, 36, came storming backmost successful nan 2nd half of nan fight, abandoning his counter-punching attack and buzzing Edwards pinch a correct manus successful nan ninth and left, correct operation successful nan tenth.

But Edwards was capable to upwind nan large wind and boxed calmly successful nan last 2 rounds.

Despite a competitory contest, Edwards looked assured arsenic nan 117-111, 116-112, 118-111 scorecards were publication retired successful his favour.

Edwards wore a Butler T-shirt arsenic he did his post-fight question and reply astatine ringside, calling it different "personal" bout for him arsenic nan erstwhile IBF champion is trained by Joe Gallagher, his erstwhile coach.