Sunny Edwards’ surprise retirement was met with more than a few raised eyebrows, with the popular British flyweight calling an end to his fantastic career at just 28 years old.
Whilst ‘Showtime’ isn’t necessarily regretting that decision, the former IBF world champion has left the door open to a potential return to the ring; but only on one condition.
‘Showtime’ announced his exit from boxing after TKO loss to Yafai
This sport can be a cruel mistress, as Sunny Edwards sadly found out this past year; in just over 12 months, ‘Showtime’ went from a title showdown against Jesse Rodriguez to hanging up the gloves at 28.
The popular British flyweight called it quits this past November following a tough TKO loss to Galal Yafai, with Edwards’ claim in the corner that he “didn’t want to be here” going viral in its aftermath.
“Win, lose or draw I was doing that, genuinely,” Edwards told Boxing Scene earlier this week, explaining how he just doesn’t have the burning fire inside of him that he once had.
“My body and my mind just needs a rest from the getting ready and competing, and that desire and that cliche – that eye of the tiger that I once had – for whatever reason, unbeknown to myself, really, it just don’t seem in me the same way.”
Edwards also revealed that he fought Yafai through several painful injuries, including issues with his ankle, shoulders, back, and wrists.
“When you haven’t got that fire, then a boxing ring’s not the best place for you. So how good I am, and can be, and have been, I owe it to myself to not keep getting in the ring – it’s hard to accept yourself, knowing you’re not as good as you used to be.”
Yet should Edwards find himself fully recovered; he has left the door open to riding into battle one more time.
Sunny Edwards reveals what it would take for him to end his early retirement
Edwards remains one of the most honest and upfront fighters in the world, admitting that his decision to walk away predominantly comes down to the incredibly high standards that he sets himself.
“I’m not close-minded to anything in this world. However, I’ve got a high standard of myself; a high standard of what I’ve been capable of doing, and if I’m honest, I’ve been short of that for quite a little while now.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever compete again, because there’s other stuff involved in the sport, and involved in my life, that I really do enjoy doing. I find myself getting more emotion, and more feeling on some other things now, than in the boxing ring.”
Yet there is a possibility that Edwards does eventually make his return, although for now his main focus is “working on my health, working on myself, and leveraging my boxing career the best I can with what opportunities and possibilities I have around me.
“I’m quite excited for the future. Would I rule out ever stepping back in the ring? I probably wouldn’t. But at the same time, I genuinely am in no rush, and if I don’t ever feel the level that I was, which I feel very, very far off from now, then I will never return.”
For the foreseeable future, Edwards will focus on his career outside of the ring; helping train the next generation of talent and applying his vast experience to the broadcast booth.
“I don’t need boxing to make stuff happen – in the sense of competing. I enjoy the other parts of it and think I can make a difference in a lot of fighters’ careers, for the good, from the other side of the lens.”