To the winner goes the booty, to the loser goes retirement.
That was the shocking revelation from Sunny Edwards last night after his sixth round defeat to Galal Yafai in Birmingham. The former world lightweight champion announced during an interview after the fight that his career was over.
While Edwards does not intend to fight again, there are four winners from last night’s card who will be heading into 2025 with titles, more glory and options to consider. But who will Galal Yafai, Kona Walker, Kieron Conway and Cameron Vuong fight next? Boxing news looking to the future…
Galol Yafai is on the verge of scoring his first world goal. (Getty Images)
Galol Yafai
Yafai, 9-0 (7 KOs), was at his best last night against Edwards, 21-2 (4 KOs). From the opening bell, his plan was clear and it worked. The 31-year-old now holds the WBC Interim belt, giving him a one-way ticket to the world title.
Former long-time featherweight champion Kenshiro Teraji, 24-1 (15 KOs), now holds the WBC featherweight title and a trip to Japan for Yafai, who won Olympic gold at the postponed 2021 Tokyo Games. However, to move up to super flyweight and take on WBC champion and generational talent Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez.
Konah Walker. (Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing)
Konah Walker
“Wolf” kept himself in the domestic bantamweight division after defeating former British champion Lewis Ritson, 23-5 (13 KOs). Walker, 14-3-1 (5 KOs), is due for a major domestic title shot in 2025 and has certainly done enough to win the upcoming British title fight between Harry Scarfe, 13-3 (3 KOs) . and Liam Taylor, 27-2-1 (14 KOs). A hunt for European champion Samuel Molina, 30-3 (15 KOs) could also be on the agenda. But if none of that is of interest, imagine how good Walker and Ekov Essuman, 21-1 (8 KOs), would be.
Conway is now the owner of the British title, which is expected in 2025. (Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing)
Kieron Conway
After missing out on a pot of cash at Prizfighter, Kieron Conway, 22-3 (6 KOs) picked up a consolation prize with a Commonwealth Middleweight title win over Ryan Kelly, 19-5-1 (8 KOs). Conway can now look forward to a British title shot against next week’s winner of Brad Pauls, 19-1-1 (11 KOs) and Denzel Bentley, 20-3-1 (17 KOs). With a world title on the horizon, there’s every chance the belt could be vacated. Conway could instead face Shaquille Thompson, 13-0 (9 KOs), not only putting Lonsdale’s belt on the line, but also placing Thompson in the WBO’s top 10 ranking.
Vuong and trainer Jamie Moore in conversation. (Mark Robinson Boxing Matchroom)
Cameron Vuong
The 22-year-old found himself in deep water against Gavin Gwynn, 17-4-1 (5 KOs), but survived a huge challenge in his seventh fight to survive the Welsh marauder. A breakdown of the results and scorecards leaves a potential matchup against Gwin as the obvious option for Vuong, 7-0 (3 KOs). However, getting back together with the 34-year-old might not be the smartest option. The aging South American veteran, who fought for a world title a few years ago, is the type of opponent we can see in the Brit’s future, and after last night, Vuong’s team will be looking for something simpler in their next battle.
