Sunny Edwards defends his IBF title against Felix Alvarado on Probellum’s debut show in Sheffield, England on Friday, November 11th at the Sheffield Utilita Arena. In the chief support, unbeaten super bantamweights Jack Bateson and Shabaz Masoud clash in a British title eliminator. Edwards makes a third defense of his IBF crown against the dynamite-fisted Nicaraguan Alvarado (38-2, 33 KOs), a former title holder at the weight below. Edwards (18-0, 4 KOs) knows he must not slip up against his mandatory challenger because a future showdown with US star Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez is on the line. 

 

Edwards said: “I have become one of the most avoided fighters in world boxing, but Felix Alvarado has the courage to face me on November 11th, and that makes him an extremely dangerous opponent.  I have grand plans to become the undisputed flyweight world champion, and then move through the weights, and I am totally confident that will happen - but there is no room for error against a fighter of Alvarado’s calibre, that’s for sure.” 

 

Alvarado said: “I am ready for this fight against Sunny Edwards, and I want to thank God for allowing me the opportunity to achieve my dream of becoming a two-weight world champion.” 

 

Richard Schaefer, President of Probellum, said: “Pound-for-pound, Sunny Edwards is one of the most skilled fighters on the planet and on November 11, you will get to see ‘Showtime’ perform at his very best. Sunny also has the type of personality and charisma that makes him a must-see attraction in boxing and Probellum is thrilled to be able to deliver this world title defence, and special fight card, to his adopted hometown of Sheffield.”

 

Bateson and Masoud have captured the imagination of the British fight fraternity after agreeing to meet so early in their careers. Boxing fans have grown tired of talented prospects avoiding each other but Leeds hero Bateson (17-0, 4 KOs), and Stoke favorite Masoud (10-0, 3 KOs), pushed for the fight to be made.