By Ian S Palmer
Original article; https://www.sportsbetlistings.com/boxing/adrian-curiel-vs-sunny-edwards-betting-odds-and-prediction/23863/
Former IBF Junior Flyweight Champion Adrian Curiel of Mexico will be taking on former IBF Flyweight Champion Sunny Edwards of England this Saturday, June 29th. The 12-rounder from Phoenix, Arizona can be seen live in most nations on DAZN. Curiel stopped Sivenathi Nontshinga of South Africa in the second round in November to win the title but was stopped in the 10th round of their rematch in February. Edwards won his belt in April, 2021 via a unanimous decision over Moruti Mthalane and defended it four times before being halted in the ninth round by WBO Flyweight Champion Jesse Rodriguez last December.
The 25-year-old Curiel climbs through the ropes with a mark of 24-5-1 with just 5 Ko’s and has boxed 200 rounds already since making his pro debut in 2016 as a teenager. He reportedly measures 5-feet-4-inches tall with a 64-inch reach and likes to switch between the orthodox and southpaw stance during most contests. He pulled off a major upset when knocking out Nontshinga as he lacks power as just 20.8 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage. However his last two wins have been by stoppage.
Curiel’s other defeats came at the hands of Daniel Valladatres by 10-round unanimous decision in 2018 in a shot at the WBC Youth Silver Light Flyweight Title; a six-round majority decision to Sergio Mejia two fights later in 2019; to Joselito Velazquez by 10-round unanimous decision the same year and to Cristian Gonzalez Hernandez via a 10-round majority decision in 2021. His lone draw was a four-round technical affair with Jose Ramirez Armenta in June of last year.
The 28-year-old Edwards enters the fight with an impressive mark of 20-1 with only 4 Ko’s. He’s boxed 170 rounds since turning pro in 2016 after a fine amateur career. As an amateur he won a gold medal at the English Junior & Youth National Championships in 2012, a silver at the Great Britain Junior Championships the same year, a gold at the 2013 and 2014 English Junior & Youth National Championships, gold at the 2015 English ABAE National Championships, bronze at the 2016 Gee-Bee Tournament and silver at the English ABAE National Championships in 2016.
Edwards possesses exceptional boxing skills and he’s needed them so far since he has little in the way of power with a current knockout ratio of just 20 per cent. He stands 5-feet-3-inches tall with a 60-inch reach which means he’s giving up an inch in height to Curiel as well as four inches in reach. Since turning pro he’s also won the WBO European, WBO International, IBF International, and BBBofC British Super Flyweight Titles.
Edwards hasn’t really fought any elite world class contenders other than Rodriguez and he didn’t fare too well. His biggest wins have been over Andres Campos, Felix Alvarado, Muhammad Waseem, Jayson Mama, Ross Murray, Ryan Farrag, Junior Granados, Thomas Essomba, Marcel Braithwaite and Hiram Gallardo. Edwards has fought just four times outside of England. He’s fought twice in Dubai with his pro debut being held in Spain and hisl loss to Rodriguez coming in Arizona.
Prediction…
Both boxers coming off of defeats in which they lost their title belts. The also both appear to be light-hitting but their power shouldn’t be underestimated. Curiel shocked most experts by stopping Nontshinga in the first meeting but was brought back to earth in the rematch. The first fight was pretty even until Curiel timed a perfect right hand shot and Nontshinga couldn’t recover. Curiel likes to come forward and apply pressure while Edwards is known for his slick boxing skills. This is a close call as both men also have good chins even though they’ve been stopped. It should be an all-action affair and I can see it going either way but I’m leaning towards Edwards in this case due to his better overall boxing skills.
