IT’S good to see Jamie Edwards elevated to bill topper on Saturday’s BCB show at the Eastside Rooms, Birmingham.
Mark my words – it’s the first of many headliners. The big-hitting Coventry light-welter – a division now referred to as super-light – is a real talent. I’ve been mightily impressed by the 27-year-old.
Jamie takes top spot on the “Winter Warmer” show after the Midlands flyweight title fight between Brad Coley and Bradley Thompson fell through, with Thompson forced to withdraw through injury.
The former fine Triumph ABC amateur, unbeaten in five as a pro, faces tough Nicaraguan Engels Gomez who I’ve watched in West Midlands rings on a number of occasions.
He gave Gully Powar a decent scrap at Wolverhampton Civic Hall, faced Macauley Owen at the Eastside Rooms and last year went in against Cory O’Regan at the Holiday Inn, Birmingham Airport.
Engels represents a decent test for Edwards, who is taking part in his first six rounder. Nicknamed El Cohete – “The Rocket”, recent form suggests he’s no longer firing on all cylinders.
But the 25-year-old is durable, experienced (66 fights, 54 losses) and has mixed in very good company.
A stoppage win would be something of a statement by Edwards who told me in a recent interview: “I have the power, the power is there – it’s about learning the other things needed and using them correctly.
“I have always been blessed with power, now we’re putting it together with speed and timing and it’s making a massive difference.”
Hopefully, we’ll see the difference on Saturday.
Edwards added: “It’s great to be back headlining at the Eastside Rooms – it’s the best venue I’ve boxed in and the perfect place to step up to six rounds.
“We haven’t changed the routine but the longer sparring sessions with Gully Powar and Liam Davies have helped massively — you can’t ask for better preparation than that.”
Following a year-long hiatus due to injury, the Triumph ABC talent made a clinical return with back-to-back knockouts against Simas Volosinas and Jayro Fernando Duran—two veterans who are notoriously difficult to stop.
While his last outing in October saw him taken the distance by South African Garth Noot, Edwards viewed the experience as a vital lesson.
He added: “Looking back, I did enough to win. I’ve been a bit tense in the past after dealing with the injury, but I’ve learned from that. We went back to the drawing board, and now we move forward.
“If I get the chance to fight for a belt in Coventry, we’d bring the roof off the place. I’m incredibly grateful for the people who have supported me since day one, and I’m going to put on a show this Saturday.”
The show also sees Doina Costin face Gabriela Strikaityte for the vacant Midlands super-bantam title. That’s a decent, 50-50 scrap destined to go the full 10 rounds.
One time Coventry golden boy Dylan Cheema has his second comeback bout after a two-year break from the business. The lightweight faces Josh Morris over six rounds.
Unbeaten Ben Andrews makes the long journey from Devon to fight Bahadur Karami, again over six, Zoe Newton makes her debut with a four-rounder against Kira Carter and Birmingham’s Ethan Rutter looks for his second pro win at the expense of Jake Pollard.
• Additional reporting from Paul Webb.
