Sunny Edwards obtained his first skilled defeat when he was crushed by Jesse Rodriguez on the Desert Diamond Area in Glendale, Arizona.
The 27-year-old, who had an ideal 20-0 report earlier than getting into the ring in his American debut, was stopped late as Rodriguez received the unified IBF and World Boxing Group flyweight belts.
The combat was stopped on the finish of the ninth spherical after Rodriguez took management of the bout, irritating Edwards for the primary time in his profession earlier than time was known as for the bout.
The 23-year-old American raised his report to 19 wins to zero with the second protection of his World Boxing Group title.
Edwards has defended his IBF title 4 occasions since profitable the title in 2021, however was trailing on all three scorecards (89-81, 87-87, and 87-83) earlier than the stoppage.
The Englishman additionally admitted he could not see with both eye by the point his nook signaled the tip of the combat.
“I believe it was a terrific combat, however sure, the higher man received right this moment,” mentioned Edwards, who misplaced the Worldwide Boxing Federation belt he received by way of determination over South African Moruti Mathalani in 2021.
Rodriguez clinched Edwards with precision earlier than sending the London fighter crashing to the canvas, face first, on the finish of the ninth spherical with a kick to the physique adopted by an uppercut left.
“I introduced one thing out of him that he could not deal with tonight,” Rodriguez mentioned. “He was a lot quicker than I believed, and smarter than I believed. You made him need to combat. He was captured.”
“I am happy with getting the win. That was my essential aim. However throughout camp, I knew I had what it took to knock him out or cease him and that is what I did, so (it) made me really feel good.” Successful is a lot better.”
