Sikho Nqothole earned a shot at the IBF junior bantamweight championship on Friday evening, overcoming ex-world titleholder Charlie Edwards via a unanimous verdict delivered at London’s York Hall.
The competitor from South Africa triumphed with judges’ scores of 116-113, 116-112, and 117-111, advancing his record to 22-3 (13 KOs). This win sets Nqothole up to contend for the IBF belt sometime this year, facing off against whoever emerges victorious from the forthcoming bout involving Willibaldo Garcia and Andrew Maloney.
Nqothole’s punching strength emerged as a crucial element across the entire match. Edwards found himself troubled by the South African’s right hand in the early stages, and Nqothole inflicted damage upon him in the third frame with a series of punches that left the English fighter wobbly.
Despite Edwards experiencing periods of success in the middle segments and boosting his offensive activity as the fight progressed, he could not erase the disadvantage accumulated on the judges’ scorecards. A number of his most impactful assaults occurred from the ninth to the eleventh rounds, yet Nqothole consistently delivered the more precise and forceful blows.
The conclusive round seemingly dissolved any lingering uncertainties. Nqothole connected acutely with his jab and right hand, whereas Edwards dedicated parts of the round to trying to provoke errors from his adversary instead of proactively engaging.
Both pugilists showed jubilation following the concluding bell, however, the officials’ decision was unanimously in favor of Nqothole, who secured the most significant win of his professional journey and a clear route to an IBF global title contention.
This loss brings Edwards’ record to 21-3 (7 KOs). The erstwhile flyweight world title holder mentioned subsequently that he intends to pause and reflect on his continuation in the athletic pursuit.
Last Updated on 2026/05/29 at 11:53 PM
