Stoke’s 31 year old British super-flyweight champion Chris Edwards put the finishing touches to his training schedule last night with a light run and is now relaxing before the first defence of his title on Friday night.

Edwards became the first Potteries based boxer to secure a Lonsdale belt for 85 years when he defeated Jamie McDonnell in Wigan last December. At Barnsley’s Metrodome on Friday night he will face Nottingham’s Andy Bell, the current English super-flyweight champion, in a twelve round defence of his title.

9 years Edwards’ junior, Bell is naturally bigger than the Stoke man: Bell is a natural bantamweight stepping down whereas Edwards is a natural flyweight stepping up. Edwards has the advantage however of being accustomed to fighting bigger men and, unlike Bell, has successfully negotiated his way through twelve rounds previously.

At only 5ft tall Edwards also faces a significant height and reach deficit over the much taller Bell. In his favour however, Edwards faces no difficulty in making the weight and was well within the BBBoC’s parameters at his Board attended check weigh-in last night. The official weigh-in takes place in a Barnsley hotel at 2 pm on Thursday when the pair will meet for the first time.

The evening’s proceedings will also see Jamie McDonnell and Lee Haskins face off in an eliminator to meet the winner of the Edwards Bell contest. Stoke light-welterweight Gary Reid was also to have taken part in the event but his rematch with John Fewkes has been cancelled.

“I am itching to get into the ring on Friday,” announced Edwards, “I need three more wins before I can keep the belt and I want to do that as soon as possible.”

“I’m taking nothing for granted though, Andy Bell is a good fighter and will be just as keen to win the belt as I am. I know what I need to do to get past him and as long as I stick to the game plan and listen to my corner during the fight I am confident that I can bring the belt back to Stoke again.”

“To be honest, the support that I’ve had from people locally has been fantastic and I’m very proud to be representing Stoke. It spurs me on to do even better now.”

The fight is part of a Frank Maloney promoted event and will be televised live by Sky Sports.

Click to read more boxing articles by Boxing Press

Discuss in Boxing Forum | Send to a friend.

---

Related Boxing Articles...

• Impact Boxing: Chris Edwards - Andy Bell

  British super-flyweight champion Chris Edwards will make the first defence in Barnsley on 28th March of the title he won last December. The Fenton based fighter will meet English champion >
  
  

• Ringside Boxing Report: Andy Bell vs. Chris Edwards

  **With Slideshow** © Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing It was a lively crowd that packed the Metrodome in Barnsley, England last night for the Frank Maloney promoted fight night billed as ‘Northern >
  
  

• Impact Boxing: Chris Edwards Vs Andy Bell

  There is just over a week to go until Chris Edwards, Stokeʼs British super-flyweight champion, defends his title for the first time against English titleholder Andy Bell. Last December, Edwards >
  
  

• Chris Edwards vs. Andy Bell Headlines Barnsley Metrodome

  Newly crowned British super flyweight champion Chris Edwards makes his first title defense on March 28, 2008 at the Metrodome in Barnsley, England when he takes on English champion Andy >
  
  

• Boxing Preview: Chris Edwards vs. Andy Bell

  Tonight at the Barnsley Metrodome in Barnsley, England, super flyweight Andy Bell aims to succeed where fellow Doncaster native Jamie McDonnell failed by beating Chris Edwards to become the >
  
  

• Chris Edwards vs. Andy Bell Thriller Supported By Solid Undercard

  This Friday, March 28, 2008 sees Chris Edward's first defense of the newest title in British boxing, the super flyweight, against English titlist Andy Bell at the Metrodome in Barnsley, >
  
  

• Boxing Update: Edwards Added To Doncaster Undercard

  The latest member of Team Impact to prepare for action in the ring is the diminutive Chris Edwards. At 5’ 3” and billed as flyweight Edwards often goes un-noticed however, >
  
  

• Boxing Info: Johnnie “Lumberjack” Edwards

  By Brian Kennedy In what looks like the perfect match-up on paper, Johnnie "Lumberjack" Edwards looks to continue his winning ways when he takes on Olivier Lontchi on Friday, August >
  
  

• Impact Boxing: Chris Edwards Earns WBC Ranking

  British title hopeful, Chris Edwards received a boost to his preparations today when he learned that had become the first member of Impact Boxing’s fledgling stable to earn a world >
  
  

• Chris Edwards - Dean Robinson II Confirmed as British Boxing Title Clash

  Christmas came early for Potteries’ boxer Chris Edwards when Impact Boxing confirmed that the English flyweight champion will face Dean Robinson again but this time for the coveted British title. >
  
  

---

Boxing News Tags: , Andy Bell, Chris Edwards, Chris Edwards vs Andy Bell