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Sunny Edwards outpoints Muhammad Waseem to retain IBF flyweight title

Sunny Edwards celebrates victory over Marcel Braithwaite in the British Super-flyweight Championship fight at the Copper Box Arena, London

Sunny Edwards defeated Pakistan’s Muhammad Waseem after 12 rounds in Dubai with scores of 115-111, 116-110 and 115-110 from the ringside judges.

Waseem, who was bidding to become his country's first ever professional world champion, tried to make the fight a war of attrition but he was deducted points in rounds six and seven, which harmed his title tilt.
Edwards described his opponent as "world class" but felt that he was a clear winner at Probellum Evolution and, after the victory, repeated his desire to face Mexican Julio Cesar Martinez, the WBC champion next in the biggest fight that can be made in the 115lbs division.
"Muhammad is a world class operator and he and his team came with a good game plan," said Edwards, who is now 18-0.

"There was a lot on the line tonight but I didn't want to just run, run, run, I wanted to mix it up and I felt I won comfortably in the end."I now want the Ring Magazine belt and the WBC title and I know Martinez wants the fight so let's make it happen, it will be huge."

Waseem, who's record now reads 12-2, accepted that Edwards deserved to keep hold of his IBF belt but he was unhappy with the referee for taking points off him.

"Congratulations to Sunny tonight, he was the better man," said Waseem."I felt it was very unfair of the referee to take points off me, I don't know why he did it - this is a fight!"

Prograis in line for world title shot

Regis Prograis will fight for the WBC world title after Tyrone McKenna was stopped because of a nasty cut above his eye.

A blood-soaked final eliminator for the super-lightweight belt was delivering on the pre-fight hype but McKenna, who had been floored in the second round, was pulled out in the sixth round.
Prograis was winning the fight but McKenna, true to form, was showing plenty of heart and guts, which rallied his fans at ringside.
But the doctor decided that his cut was too severe and handed victory - and a shot at the WBC crown currently held by Josh Taylor - to American Prograis.
"He's a tough man, I knew he was going to be tough and when I knocked him down, I knew he was going to get up," Prograis, now 27-1, said.
"But I stayed calm. He kept pushing forward and so I had to change my game plan and box more.
"I've been world champion before and I will be world champion again."
A valiant McKenna, despite his pre-fight claims, admitted Prograis carries serious power.
"He's world class, he's heavy handed and he's probably the hardest puncher I've ever been in with. He's got massive power," he said.
Probellum President Richard Schaefer was at ringside in Dubai and said: "That was an unbelievable show from Regis Prograis.
"In my opinion he is a top 10 pound for pound fighter, he is one of the best fighters in the world.
"And Tyrone McKenna has to be one of the toughest fighters I have ever seen."
Prograis put McKenna on his back at the start of round two with booming overhand left but the Irishman, who says he loves going to war in the ring, was smiling at his rival as he lay on the canvas.
Blood started to run from the side of McKenna's head as former world champion Prograis took a firm hold of the final eliminator at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium.
The ringside doctor inspected McKenna at the end of the session and allowed him to continue and the 'Mighty Celt' whipped up his fans at ringside by attempting to mount a fightback.
Prograis remained in command, but McKenna refused to be beaten and enjoyed success in the fifth round as the American's pace dropped.
However, a nasty cut above McKenna's right eye opened up and forced the referee to call on the doctor to take a look.
After an inspection, it was ruled that the brave McKenna was in no condition to continue and Prograis, who called out new Probellum signing Jack Catterall after the fight, had his arm raised.

Read more: From flyweight to heavyweight: Great Britain's boxing world champions

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