LONDON, England – Sikho Nqothole defeated Charlie Edwards by 12-round unanimous decision inside a hot and humid York Hall to secure a shot at the IBF junior bantamweight title.
The travelling South African was up against it on away turf, but impressed with his sharp shooting and heavy hand to take the contest by scores of 116-113, 116-112 and 117-111. Nqothole, 22-3 (13 KOs), will now face the winner of Willibaldo Garcia vs. Andrew Maloney for the IBF strap later this year.
The opener was a cagey affair with both men missing with their lead left jabs. Nqothole clearly carried the heavier hands of the two, and he smashed a right hand into the gloves of Edwards that brought a nod from the Englishman.
Nqothole, 31, then turned his attention to Edwards’ midsection early in the second and landed a right hand to the ribs. Edwards, 33, looked a little troubled by the South African’s power as he circled the ring away from danger.
Edwards found success in the third, landing a crisp right hand, but Nqothole was not deterred. The South African pushed forwards, landing a right hand of his own, followed by a left, that sent Edwards’ legs into a spin. Edwards did well to recover and finish the round on his feet.
Nqothole looked dangerous whenever he let his hands go, but it wasn’t just his hands that impressed those seated ringside. He was every bit as good with his feet, edging out of range as Edwards attempted to land and countering back with spite.
Edwards seemed to wake up the fifth and notched his first round on the scorecards. Nqothole, in turn, looked to have dipped ever so slightly, allowing Edwards to pick the South African off and spin away from harm.
The sixth was a close affair, with both men trading leather to the body but struggling to tie the other down. It seemed as though Edwards had weathered the storm and his confidence was starting to grow as he came out for the seventh.
He started the session by planting a right hand downstairs. Nqothole returned fire by snapping Edwards’ head back with a jab but missed with a right seconds later. Nqothole seemed comfortable again, moving with ease before cracking Edwards with a right hand.
Edwards sensed he was down on the cards and pushed the pace in the ninth. Edwards backed Nqothole into a corner and unloaded a barrage of shots, but the South African was too silky and slipped the shots before pivoting away.
The Englishman added another session to his tally in 10th and Nqothole now seemed to be struggling with the pace he had set early into the contest. Edwards sensed a way back into the contest and came out for the 11th with a sense of urgency. He cracked Nqothole with a right uppercut and followed it with a left to the midsection.
Nqothole seemed frustrated that he had allowed Edwards to claw himself back into the fight and met this man center ring for the 12th and final round. Nqothole started well, landing his jab and following it with a right hand that stunned Edwards who felt as though he was ahead. He started to taunt Nqothole as he made Nqothole miss, but he threw nothing in return.
Both men celebrated at the round’s and content’s conclusion, but it was Nqothole – and rightly so – who was awarded the victory on the scorecards.
Edwards fell to 21-3 (7 KOs) with the defeat and afterwards suggested he will now consider his future.
