SUNNY SIDE UP
Rising prospect Edwards snaps Murray’s unbeaten streak
ST PAUL’S NOVEMBER 27 ★★★ WHOLE SHOW ★★★ ATMOSPHERE
YOUTH conquered experience in the main event on Queensberry Promotions’ annual DEBRA charity show in the shadow of St Paul’s Cathedral at the Grange St Paul’s Hotel. In a battle of unbeatens, Sunny Edwards stepped up for his first 10-rounder and stopped the 35-year-old Ross Murray with one second left in the fourth round.
Sunny, the younger man by 14 years, closed the first with a stinging right hand. His Glaswegian opponent’s face was already reddened by the second, as the Croydon super-flyweight stylist quickly countered any attacks Ross attempted to launch.
A brief respite was given to Murray in the third as he winced from an accidental low blow. However, Edwards closed the show in style in the fourth, as a right hand floored the plucky Scot. Upon rising, Murray was pressured down once again from lefts and rights. The evening’s referee, Steve Gray, decided enough was enough.
Also taking part in his maiden 10-round bout was the undefeated Lerrone Richards, who showed off his boxing skills to the appreciative black-tie diners. His accurate southpaw jab and impressive ring generalship saw him home unanimously on the judges’ scorecards.
Lee Cook and Ferenc Budai agreed on 99-91, while Dave Parris (98-92) gave Sanquhar’s Rhys Pagan two rounds – most likely the fifth and eighth, when Rhys unleashed some fierce strikes and tried to push the New Malden man to the ropes.
Lerrone used the large ring to his advantage, bloodying Pagan’s nose with an eyecatching combination in round four. Richards generally bossed proceedings with his jab, successfully nullifying the current Scottish Area super-middleweight champion’s gritty onslaughts.
THE VERDICT Edwards and Richards triumph in their first 10s to remain undefeated.