Thomas Essomba vs Charlie Edwards Preview September 27th, 2024
Former WBC Flyweight Champion Charlie Edwards of England is back in the ring this Friday, September 27th when he challenges European Bantamweight Champion Thomas Essomba of Cameroon. Edwards last fought in April when he beat Georges Orly of France by a wide 10-round unanimous decision to win the vacant WBC International Silver Bantamweight Belt. Essomba’s last fight resulted in a 12-round split decision over Elie Konki in his first defence. Essomba, who fights out of Sheffield, England, won the title in May, 2023 with a 12-round unanimous decision over Alessio Lorusso. The 12-rounder from London can be seen live in the UK on Channel 5.
Essomba vs Edwards Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Thomas Essomba +500
- Charlie Edwards -800
My Pick
The 31-year-old Edwards hails from Sutton, Surrey and enters the ring with an impressive 19-1 mark with 7 Ko’s. He’s fought 143 rounds since making his pro debut in 2015 and has little power as just 36.8 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage and just one of his last seven bouts. Edwards does make up for it though in skills, heart and hustle though. Before turning pro he enjoyed a fine amateur career and won a bronze medal at the European Championships in 2011 in Ankara, Turkey.
Since turning pro he’s also captured the English and WBC International Silver Flyweight Titles as well as the British and WBA Continental Super Flyweight Crowns. Edwards stands 5-feet-6-inches tall with a 66-inch reach. His lone loss as a pro came at the hands of John Riel Casimero in September, 2016 when he was stopped in the 10th round in a shot at the IBF World Flyweight Title. Edwards beat Cristofer Rosales by unanimous decision back in 2018 to win his world title.
He defended it by unanimous decision against Angel Moreno but was then stopped in the third round by Julio Cesar Martinez. The decision was then changed to a no-contest when it was ruled that Martinez hit Edwards while he was down. Edwards has fought just four times since that August, 2019 bout. Edwards hasn’t exactly faced the cream of the crop in his division in the rest of his fights as his best wins have been against the likes of Rosales, Angel Moreno, Anthony Nelson, Iain Butcher, Luke Wilton and Louis Norman.
As for Essomba, he’s a 36-year-old southpaw who climbs through the ropes with a mark of 13-8-1 with just 4 Ko’s. With just 30.7 per cent of his wins coming by stoppage, Edwards looks like a power puncher to compared to Essomba. The native of Cameroon has fought 182 rounds since making his pro debut in 2009 following a fine amateur career. He measures just 5-feet-4-inches tall with an unlisted reach which means he gives up two inches in height to Edwards.
Essomba lost his pro debut to Yoan Boyeaux on points over four rounds and then won seven fights in a row including an 11th-round TKO over Waleed Din in 2015 for the vacant Commonwealth Flyweight Title. Essomba lost that belt via a unanimous decision to in 2017 in his first defence. In 2018 he won the vacant British Bantamweight Title by stopping Louis Norman with a body shot in the sixth round. Once again he lost the belt in his first defence when kyle Williams edged him by split decision five months later.
Lee McGregor stopped Essomba in the 12th round in 2018 in a shot at the vacant Commonwealth Bantamweight Crown and he dropped a unanimous decision to Edwards’ brother Sunny Edwards in an attempt at the IBF International Super Flyweight Belt. Edwards has also lost decisions to Iain Butcher, March Leach and Marcel Braithwaite while his lone draw was an eight-round technical affair with Thomas Patrick Ward in 2020 after Ward was cut by an accidental headbutt and the fight went to the scorecards.
Prediction…
Edwards is a bit underrated and this should be a good test for him as Essomba is durable and a pretty good boxer despite his age and record. Both boxers lack power power so there’s a good chance this goes the distance. Edwards stepped away from the sport for awhile but came back last year. He’s a sharp boxer and unless Essomba dominates him or lands a perfect punch I can see Edwards having his hand raised in victory here.
Edwards has the slicker skills.
Play: Edwards -800 @ BetOnline.ag
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Charlie Edwards betting • Thomas Essomba betting