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Sunny Edwards claims IBF flyweight title with unanimous points victory over Moruti Mthalane

Sunny Edwards dominated the exchanges at Bethnal Green's York Hall to administer Moruti Mthalane's first defeat since 2008; Irishman Michael Conlan secured a majority victory over Ionut Baluta to capture the WBO international super-bantamweight belt

Sunny Edwards, Boxing
Image: Sunny Edwards has 16 wins from 16 fights as a professional

Sunny Edwards claimed the IBF flyweight world title with a unanimous points victory over Moruti Mthalane.

The Londoner dominated the exchanges at Bethnal Green's York Hall on Friday night to administer the veteran South African's first defeat since 2008.

Edwards' superiority over the 12 rounds was reflected on the scorecards with the judges scoring it 118-111, 120-108, 115-113.

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Derek Chisora ignited a heated row with Joseph Parker at the weigh-in for their heavyweight fight

The 25-year-old's victory saw him become a world champion like his brother Charlie, who did so at the same weight in 2018.

Liverpool's Liam and Callum Smith had previously been the only British brothers to both become world champions.

This was Mthalane's 11th world title contest in a career that has spanned more than 20 years.

But Edwards' jab, judgement of distance, and hand speed troubled the 38-year-old until the Briton tired in the closing stages.

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Mthalane forced Edwards onto the back foot over the last two rounds, but he could not deliver the knockout blow he needed to keep his title.

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Katie Taylor pointed to Natasha Jonas' sole knockout loss as an indication that the challenger can be stopped in Manchester on Saturday night

Conlan edges closer to world title bout

Michael Conlan secured a majority victory over Ionut Baluta to capture the WBO international super-bantamweight belt.

Conlan maintained his unbeaten record but was troubled by his Romanian opponent in London.

The 29-year-old Irishman was scored 117-112 and 115-114 by two of the judges, with the other official scoring the bout a 114-114 draw.

The win edges Conlan closer to a possible world title shot.

He hopes the victory will lead to an eventual WBO world title fight with American super-bantamweight world champion Stephen Fulton.

Watch Chisora v Parker and Taylor v Jonas on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Box Office, from 6pm. Book it via your Sky remote or book it online here. Non-Sky TV subscribers can book and watch it here.

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