Don’t be a flash Charlie
CHARLiE EDWARDS put on the Saturday night razzle-dazzle to become the first of Britain’s new generation of ring stars in the making not only to win but now successfully defend a world title.
The dazzle was brilliant as the WBC flyweight champion took a walk in the Olympic Park to shut out victory over Spanish challenger Angel Moreno.
The razzle cast an unwelcome shadow over a performance which should have been remembered for Master Edwards’s skills. He is an exciting talent, but Charlie Boy must not spoil his own future.
The blistering speed of hand and foot, along with the ring- craft, won every round in a unanimous decision magnified to 120-107 by a questionable knockdown awarded even though Moreno appeared to slip.
The self-indulgent showboating was unnecessary. Edwards took time out from his virtual masterclass by copying the way Billy Joe Saunders sometimes poses to watch a widely missed punch as if it is heading off into the audience.
He was given a proper telling off by trainer Grant Smith. Unabashed, he then taunted Moreno by dropping his hands to his side and sticking out his chin.
The Spanish veteran, who gamely gave Edwards 12 rounds of useful experience despite taking a battering, did not deserve such disrespect. To make it worse, this under- sized opponent is a former sparring partner of Edwards.
it is never easy for the smaller boxers to attract attention and with the Copper Box barely half- full Edwards hinted at a need to entertain the crowd.
But what the fans really want, rather than posturing, are knockouts. And this young man’s record — only six stoppages in 15 wins — indicates that he finds them hard to provide.
Punching power shortages can be corrected, but only by specific training. Not by performing the Ali Shuffle, which Edwards also tried.
So who does he want to be: Mister Edwards or Flash Charlie? The choice is his.