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Rhys Edwards (16-1, 4KO) is the perfect example of when a fighter lives the life and stays ready in the gym there’s always the possibility to earn an opportunity of a lifetime at any given moment.
The featherweight found himself on the undercard of the undisputed heavyweight title contest between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia taking on Peter McGrail (11-1, 6KO) on less than a weeks notice following a Dennis McCann failed drug test.
Despite not having a full camp the Welshman put in a stellar performance over a closely contested ten rounds, with scorecards of 96-94, 96-94, 96-95 seeing him lose his first professional contest by the narrowest of margins, with Edwards himself feeling he had done enough.
“It was very close, I’m obviously going to be a bit biased but I do think I edged it but I did start slow, I did really enjoy the fight itself I just started a bit slow,” said the 25-year old.
“A lot of his shots were hitting gloves, I’m not taking anything away from Peter he’s class but if I knew I was fighting, if I had a tidy camp who knows, but thats gone anyway so onto the next now.”
Following the news that McCann had been pulled from the fight due to adverse findings in a pre fight test, Edwards and his family joked that there could be a possibility that he’d get the call, little did they know that it would soon become reality.
“My father said to me jokingly imagine you get the call, lucky your weight is decent. The closer it was getting I was thinking its obviously not going to happen now, thats gone, when I had the phone call on the Monday night it was honestly crazy, I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Rhys Edwards gets Boxxer promotional deal following Saudi clash
The orthodox fighter impressed enough in the Saudi clash to seal a new promotional deal with Ben Shalom’s Boxxer, who boast undisputed title chasing Lauren Price offering a strong potential pairing for future shows in Wales.
“I had my first big show with them on the undercard of Liam Williams and Chris Eubank in Cardiff, that was my first taste of the big shows, I had a two fight deal with them and now I’ve signed a two year deal with them, I’ve been with them since the start really so I’d like to show my loyalty, it was for good money and I believe they’ll look after me.”
Edwards is scheduled to compete on the undercard of the EBU European super-middleweight title between Callum Simpson and Ivan Zucco at Barnsley’s Oakwell Stadium on June 7th, however is facing some frustration over finding an opponent, but will be backed heavily due to his ever increasing popularity.
“To be honest with you I have no idea, I’ve had definitely two maybe three pull outs, I’ve offered to move up weight to fight these two opponents, I’m just waiting, getting ready and staying ready.”
“I’m looking forward to it, it’s going to be class up there in a big stadium. Ive picked up a good few sponsors full time, they’ve bought three hundred tickets off me already and I’ve got a few myself ready to sell so its just going to be amazing I really can’t wait for it, its going to be bouncing.”
“It sounds a bit stupid to say but before that fight (against McGrail) I felt popular and now I feel like a semi celebrity, like yesterday I was having my tires changed and the delivery driver tapped me on the shoulder and asked are you Rhys and had me sign a little bit of cardboard, I just found it funny because nothing like that ever happened before, I’m so greatful.”
Currently under the tutilage of trainer Gary Lockett in the Llanrumney Phoenix ABC gym, an establishment filled with some of the hardest working and talented boxers in South Wales his mentality as a professional has seen huge improvements as he looks to take full advantage of the remaining years in the ring.
“I like to enjoy myself, I like to live my life but when it comes down to it and I have to be good and wise up I do. I could still improve in areas but we all can I suppose, I’m ten times better than I used to be. I used to be a little sh*t missing training, weighing heavy and just being young and dumb I suppose but now i’m older and more mature.”
