Eddie Hearn, the man behind the curtain, got all choked up reacting to the stunning tenth-round knockout of his fighter, Sunny Edwards (20-1, 4 KOs), at the heavy hands of Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez (19-0, 12 KOs). This slugfest, under the Arizona lights at the Desert Diamond Arena, was total WAR!
Edwards, though smaller and less beefy than Rodriguez, gave it his all. He was like David slinging rocks at Goliath, only this Goliath had fists of steel. Sunny was battling an eye injury from round two, looking like he’d gone a few rounds with a swarm of bees. The plot thickened in the ninth when Rodriguez unleashed a left hook that sent Sunny for a quick nap on the canvas. Sunny’s corner, being the wise owls they are, threw in the towel after the ninth.
Post-fight, Sunny, sporting a designer eye injury, tipped his hat to Hearn, promising a comeback. After Sunny shuffled off, Hearn, tears in his eyes, championed Sunny’s heart and grit, urging the media and fans to shower him with the respect he’s due, especially in facing this defeat.
Let’s face it, Rodriguez was like a hurricane in there – bigger, stronger, younger, and with talent to spare. From round two, it was clear Bam was the boss. Sunny’s only shot was to play tag, but Bam’s ring-cutting skills had him cornered.
Bam’s jab and body shots were relentless, pinning Sunny down like a butterfly in a display case. Moving wasn’t an option; Sunny was stuck in Bam’s web.
Bam’s now vacating his IBF & WBO belts as he plans a homecoming to 115. Sunny’s got his eyes on those vacated thrones, ready to climb back to the top.
Sunny Edwards: “Thanks for the chance and the show. I’ll be back,” Edwards tells iFL TV, giving props to Hearn after his tussle with Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez.
Eddie Hearn: “I’m proud of you. That fight tonight showed your mettle, even if it wasn’t the smartest pick for you. You were like a warrior in there. Thanks for making it a night to remember.”
Edwards: “No, no. I’m thankful for being a part of this. Remember when you asked me about my weight class? I said ‘light flyweight,’ and you were like, ‘What, you’re gonna fight for peanuts?’ But look at us now. I might’ve lost, but I never imagined something like this, especially in the States. I’m coming back, and there are lots of paths I can take.”
Hearn: “Go get those belts back. Everyone, support Sunny. He’s got some tough weeks ahead. He deserves our respect and praise for tonight. He showed more guts than most could muster, myself included.
“We should be grateful to both fighters. They could’ve taken easier fights but chose to clash. What a night! Bam’s gotta be on your pound-for-pound list. And remember, he’s only 23. He’s thinking about going back to 115 for big fights, maybe even bantamweight. There are huge matches out there for him.”
