Flyweight world champion Sunny Edwards has revealed he wants to mentor YouTube fighters as he believes they have had a positive impact on the sport.
Fans have witnessed the rise of the likes of Jake Paul and KSI in recent years, with both men able to attract huge numbers to watch their fights thanks to their influence online.
But YouTube boxing has divided opinion, with some fans unconvinced by how seriously it should be taken, and the direction in which the sport is heading.
Paul has previously stated his intention to become a world champion and has called for a future fight with Canelo Alvarez, but was beaten in his last bout by former Love Island star Tommy Fury.
Meanwhile, KSI’s most recent fight ended in controversial fashion when he appeared to drop his opponent Joe Fournier with an elbow rather than a punch. Having initially been declared the winner, KSI’s victory was subsequently taken away from him following a review, with the result changed to a ‘no decision’.
Sunny Edwards has defended YouTube boxing and would like to get involved in it as a mentor
YouTuber KSI’s popularity has grown through moving into boxing in recent years
Jake Paul (left) is also one of the biggest names in boxing now, although he lost his last fight against Tommy Fury (right)
Major shows including Misfits, which feature predominantly YouTubers, are now being delivered on a regular basis, and some professionals are becoming disgruntled with the money on offer in these events when they have spent their entire lives working their way through the ranks.
Edwards has defended the rise of YouTube boxing, though, highlighting how it has attracted more viewers to the sport, and has claimed he would welcome the opportunity to get involved in it moving forward.
‘I enjoy it. I think it’s more like WWE. I genuinely watch the shows,’ Edwards told Mail Sport.
‘I’ve been at the shows and I’ve seen 20,000 people at 5:30, 6 o’clock when the doors open funnelling in and stay there until 11 o’clock at night. So if you ask me do I think this is good for boxing, hell yes, I think it’s good for boxing. Absolutely.
‘Because there’s a lot of boxing shows only 10 minutes before Anthony Joshua everyone goes (to get their seats) and then as soon as he goes everyone’s out again. I also think it’s opening up the eyes of how hard boxing is and how different it looks to when someone’s actually doing it to when someone just starts doing it.
‘I would like to see more crossover. I would like to see boxers partnering up with YouTubers. The YouTubers mentor the boxers on how to get their profile up, and the boxer shows the YouTuber how to be professional and prepare properly and be healthy and diet properly.
‘Why DAZN and Misfits and Eddie Hearn and Matchroom aren’t (saying): “Sunny, you go with him, you go with him, you go with him, become little best friends”, I don’t know why they haven’t done that yet. But I can’t sit here and be envious or jealous or try and say “this is embarrassing for the sport”.’
Edwards may have one eye on the YouTube scene, but he has a fight of his own this weekend when he will be taking on Chile’s Andres Campos at OVO Arena Wembley.
It will be the fourth defence of his IBF flyweight title, and his first fight since switching to Matchroom Boxing earlier this year.
Edwards believes linking up with Eddie Hearn will prove to be a ‘match made in heaven’
The Brit has been accused of being a safety-first boxer with just four knockouts in his 19 wins in a row
Multiple fighters have left Matchroom in recent months, with Olympians Lawrence Okolie and Joshua Buatsi joining BOXXER, while promoter Eddie Hearn has received criticism for his handling of Conor Benn’s situation after the unbeaten contender failed two drugs tests last year.
But Edwards has set his sights on becoming a unified champion this year, and with fellow champions Julio Cesar Martinez and Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez tied to Matchroom, he has revealed he had no hesitation in signing with Hearn.
‘You can’t take things personally in business. Outside boxing, it’s a business. Eddie Hearn and Matchroom are always going to do what’s right by them, who they have contracts with, that’s the game. Same as the fighters are always going to do what’s best for them,’ Edwards explained.
‘One gripe I previously had with Eddie and how he managed my brother’s career was that I felt like he kind of fed him to the wolves. But I can’t ever fall into that because I am the wolf.
‘I’m going to Eddie saying “give me the hardest fights now!” So there’s not an over-matching that Eddie could do for me. I am the best in the world, I am number one, I am proving it against anyone.
‘I want to build a legacy, I want to challenge myself, I want to really see what boxing can be like. I think me and Eddie are a match made in heaven. He wants to make the fights. I want to be in the fights.’
Looking ahead to his return on Saturday night, Edwards is keen to put on a show to set up a future clash with Martinez or Rodriguez.
The 27-year-old has won 19 straight fights since turning professional, but only has four knockouts to his name and has been accused in the past of being a safety-first fighter.
Edwards is targeting unification fights, and could face Julio Cesar Martinez (above) next
Fellow champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez (right) is another opponent Edwards could face
Edwards must first get past Chile’s Andres Campos (right) on Saturday at OVO Arena Wembley
Edwards has vowed to entertain on his Matchroom bow, though, before calling for the biggest fight possible later this year.
‘I know it’s about entertainment, it’s not just about Sunny Edwards winning and keep on going in his career. I genuinely have been trying to mix and blur the two but whilst not really giving up any percentages of winning because I love winning, I’m addicted to it,’ Edwards admitted.
‘I’m going to have a look at him in the first three or four rounds and I’m genuinely going to try and bully him.
‘I feel like this is going to be the perfect opportunity to catapult myself into a bigger, wider audience, and then really grab the mic, look down the camera and tell these fighters that they’re cowards and they’re scared of me.’
