In only his eighth fight, Liverpudlian super-flyweight Paul Edwards faces his toughest test yet as he drops down to the 112lb limit to challenge British flyweight champion Shinny Bayaar at the Kings Hall in Belfast tonight.
The 24 year-old has won all seven of his previous bouts, all at super-flyweight, since turning pro in July 2008 and jumps up several levels in class to take on the Oldham-based Mongolian on the undercard of the Martin Lindsay v John Simpson British featherweight title clash.
Bayaar, 33, lost three of his first six bouts after turning pro in 2000, but has only lost once since 2004, against former British bantamweight champion Martin Power and just scraped through a split decision draw with Ashley Sexton earlier this year, to cling on to his title.
Both fighters looked chiselled at the weigh-in, showing each other a mutual respect, but looking ready for a war, with scouser Edwards happy with his preparations and looking forward to his biggest challenge.
“Trainings gone great, everything has run smoothly,” Edwards told WBN.
“I am ready to take the title back to Liverpool, I am so excited, can’t wait to get in the ring and do the business,”
Shinny Bayaar v Paul Edwards is live on Sky Sports HD1 tonight from 8pm