Charlie Edwards: “I wouldn’t be in this sport anymore if I didn’t think I could do this. My dream is to be a multi-weight world champion.”

Charlie Edwards: “I wouldn’t be in this sport anymore if I didn’t think I could do this. My dream is to be a multi-weight world champion.”

By Lewie Laing

As I caught up with Charlie Edwards for FightPost ahead of his return to the ring next month, it became quickly apparent this was a different person to the one I had spoken to just under one year ago, ahead of a similar return to the ring in a similar circumstance. Edwards was fresh-faced, smiling, and seemingly had a spring in his step when it came to talking about boxing and his up-and-coming return to the ring against Georges Ory for the vacant WBC International silver bantamweight title. 

A split with manager and trainer Joe Gallagher following their one win together and months away from the boxing ring has led to the former world champion soul-searching and facing testing times. Edwards is though, finally in a place where he feels comfortable and at peace, grateful for the hardship and ready to kick on with his career leaving the past well and truly behind him and ready for a fight night that he expects to kickstart his run towards more world championship gold.

“I’m ready to go, ready for fight night already. I’ve noticed the difference in myself. Even watching recent interviews I have done, I feel good again. I could fight tomorrow, I feel a million dollars. I have a great team around me now, I feel like I have raised the roof, and I can’t wait to showcase it.

“It was a tough time to get through, I stayed positive in the dark times, but I was very emotional, very down. I made decisions, quit alcohol, soul-searched, and battled demons in my head. That hardship of the last year has been character-building. It’s not always smooth and plain sailing in life, that doesn’t matter if you’re a professional boxer, work in Asda, or a bricklayer, we are all human beings, and all go through hard times.

“But I believe it’s been maybe a blessing in disguise. It made me work on a lot of my weaknesses and build my character, and I feel like it’s changed me completely. I’m so happy and content. I’m trained by Stephen Smith now, and overall, I feel like my old self before I won a world title, I feel like I’m having my professional debut all over again. I didn’t know if these days would come back, but it’s true what they say, a happy fighter is a dangerous fighter.”

The elation and excitement when speaking of returning to the boxing ring was clear to see as Edwards explained his promotional link up with Wasserman, fronted by brothers Nisse and Kalle Sauerland. Edwards has been put into a headlining spot set to be broadcast live on Channel 5 on April 12th, accommodated at short notice, and treated with the respect over 10 years in the game deserves. 

The promotion Edwards is fighting under will not be the only new look come fight night as in his corner will be former World title challenger turned trainer, Stephen ‘Swifty’ Smith, one of the four boxing Smith brothers from Liverpool. An unexpected link up but one which sees Smith bring a fresh approach to coaching, new methods and with him being a former fighter at the highest level, fighter experience unmatched by many of the seasoned trainers currently on the boxing circuit, something Edwards thinks can only be good for boxing.

“We have a plan and I have belief in Wasserman, Nisse and Kalle Sauerland, the fight got made on five weeks’ notice, I’m on channel 5 and I’m a headline act, they made that space for me. It feels like it is my time again. I’ve been through the trials and tribulations, and they’ve made me the person I need to be now to continue my journey chasing my dreams and manifestations I’ve put out there. It’s great now, a four-fight deal with Wasserman, in the next 12 -16 months, I will have those fights, I’m going to be an active fighter again, and that is music to my ears. I will be busy and pushing towards a world title.

“It came through my strength and conditioning coach. I was just lost and didn’t want to rush decisions off the back of the not-so-good stint of my career I had just been in. I didn’t want to be just another number in a gym. I was training myself in Portugal and came back over to the UK, did some networking, and ended up sitting with Stephen at a boxing show and speaking to him for a while just about boxing, nothing to do with training me. I then went to Birmingham and did a session with Jonny Reynolds, who mentioned Stephen Smith was getting into training fighters, and that was it. Everything came together. I’ve always looked up to Stephen and his brothers. I was in awe of Stephen Smith when I was coming up. He was an inspiration for me, so it’s mad how the universe has connected us, but it feels right. I think you will see some big improvements, I’m firing on all cylinders, and Smith is bringing out the best in my style. 

“You’ve seen it with Joseph Parker and Andy Lee with what they’ve done, Ant Crolla is training fighters, Stephen Smith the same, there’s certainly a change coming with fighters turning to coaching. These new coaches have the experience of going in there and living it. They have more real experience than the old coaches, and it’s a change in the boxing scene for the better. Fighters have seen the highs and lows, have seen the mistakes, and have been victims of the decisions of others. They’ve experienced the pain and heartache, which means they can pass that on to other fighters when it comes to managing other fighters. It feels like it’s all good for the sport.”

Edwards has also put his career in his own hands, choosing to manage himself moving forward. The experience of his career not heading in the direction he wanted has been enough over the years for the 31-year-old to take the reins and guide himself. Edwards had to complete the British Boxing Board of Control’s management course, something he suggests any up-and-coming fighter does, to educate themselves and make the right choice when it comes to the team in charge of guiding their careers. 

In managing himself, Edwards has also made a move that could be groundbreaking when it comes to fighters and selling tickets by creating his own website, charlie-edwards.com, allowing fans to buy tickets directly from Edwards himself. Selling tickets is not a necessity for Edwards, and with living in Portugal and having a national fanbase, selling and delivering tickets physically is not an option. The world we live in is becoming more digital by the day, and so a move to online ticket sales is both natural and sensible for all involved. 

“Managing yourself is tough. It’s hard, but when you want something bad enough and you are comfortable talking to people, it opens many doors to positive conversations. It helps, I am a former world champion, and I’ve been in this sport for ten years now. To those coming through, maybe it is not ideal to manage yourself straight away but do your research on your managers, communicate with other fighters, and don’t just listen to one person and what they say. Do not let people use you for their gain. It’s a very important decision for a fighter. What I would say to other fighters is to read the rulebook. When I completed my manager’s course and I read that rule book, I realised how much knowledge it has given me that I didn’t have, which led to mistakes in the past. It’s so important that fighters read the British Boxing Board of Control rulebook because that allows you to know what you are dealing with and what can and can’t be done.

“The penny just dropped for me before my last fight. The way the world works now, if you want to buy something, you jump online and buy it there and then. If you can’t or don’t in the moment, you kind of put off buying it. Everyone likes simple and quick these days, and it just hit me. It’s a single landing page, charlie-edwards.com, where you can go on and purchase tickets to my next fight, no going around the houses or hard work, a couple of clicks, and you’re done. 

“I reached out to my good friend Tim, who designed the page, and he took care of it. Ticket orders come through, I have the address and how many tickets are ordered. With Wasserman, they do tickets PDF, I just paste them into emails and send them out. The web page keeps track of all the sales, and all money goes into my bank account, which can go straight to my promoter. It took away a lot of stress and running around. It isn’t talked about enough in boxing, but I’m glad I’ve had the brain wave. My brother Sunny jumped on and ordered two tickets and couldn’t believe how easy it was. He wants to get on it now as well, so I’m going to set up with Tim. To any other fighters who want to get involved, drop me a message.”

A tough year for Edwards was maybe capsulated by his aforementioned younger brother, Sunny, suffering his first career defeat with Charlie sat front row. It was a tough moment for Charlie Edwards, watching his brother beaten in enemy territory, helpless from ringside. The Edwards brothers both know one defeat does not define a career, and Charlie knows his brother will be back sooner rather than later and that the defeat has only grown Sunny’s popularity.

“It was an eerie, weird feeling. I’m just used to seeing that happen to my brother throughout his whole career. I was sitting ringside around an American, Mexican crowd. It was hard, and it was horrible. There was a photo put out afterwards when Sunny was down and you could see me front row with my head in my hands, it was a horrible experience. 

“This is the sport of boxing, though, and it happens in this game. When you take the chance to fight the best, you can come up short, and that’s what happened on the night. My brother came up short. It doesn’t take anything away from him as a fighter. He showed a lot of grit and determination. He got a lot of praise and respect from fans, which was nice, and I think probably makes his brand and name bigger. He did well to get through the rounds with a broken orbital bone. Other than the big fight next and pay cheque, he hasn’t lost anything. He may reassess, but he wants to be straight back in there sooner rather than later.”

Charlie Edwards has been in professional boxing for 10 years now. In truth, it feels a lot longer, an ever-present on British TV screens for as long as I can remember, yet he is still only 31 years old. Edwards is feeling better than ever and knows he is still young in the world of boxing.

While all around Edwards may be changing, the goal remains the same as it always has been, world titles at multiple weight classes. There is a difference in Edwards’ personality and focus speaking to him this time around, certainly when it comes to the reason he is still donning the gloves and climbing through the ropes of the boxing ring. He could have walked away, comfortable from the highest he reached so early in his career but a burning desire inside will not allow him to turn his back on a sport that has caused many lows but phenomenal highs.

Unlike in the past, Edwards is now in control of his destiny with a team who are bringing out the best in him both physically and mentally. Sometimes in life, we are put through testing times that lead us to better times, and Edwards certainly appreciates the position he is currently in as he begins a new assault on the bantamweight division and beyond.

“People forget, I turned professional at 21. I was on Sky Sports from day one. I fought for a world title at 23, came back, and won a world title at 25, still a kid in professional boxing, which flies under the radar a little. I chose to be great early, which may have caused this dip lately, but some people don’t win world titles until they are 33 or 34 years old. I have the best years ahead of me. I’m maturing, and filling out, experience, and knowledge are better than ever. I have the best team I could ask for. I wouldn’t be in this sport anymore if I didn’t think I could do this. My dream is to be a multi-weight world champion, not just a two-weight world champion. When I’m sat at the end of my career and looking back, those hard times made me who I was. 

“I’m just grateful it’s my time again. I’ve focused every day on improving myself, and even in the dark times when it was challenging, I’ve continued to believe that the rewards will come thick and fast starting on 12th April. Everything we are doing in the gym is building and bubbling, a massive performance coming to build on. 

“A world title shot could come at any time. Wasserman works with everyone, so I can fight on any platform if anything comes up, so I’m in a good position right now. You never know what might come up. You know how boxing is. I’m on national TV now with Channel 5, headlining. I’m getting the eyes on me, I’m hitting the prime years of my career, I want to go out and bring a legitimate world title back to Channel 5, it hasn’t been done for many years.”