Edwards facing Commonwealth rematch

Chris Edwards will defend his Commonwealth flyweight title in a rematch against Namibia’s Abmerk Shindjuu at the Fenton Manor Sports Complex in Stoke on 26 March. Edwards outpointed Shindjuu to win the vacant Commonwealth strap in a bruising encounter at this same venue eleven months ago by the slenderest of margins (115-114 on all three judges’ scorecards) and may not be relishing a return against the gangly African who mounted a strong late flurry.

Veteran Edwards will be keen to stay active this year after a stop-start 2010. The one-time Stoke journeyman’s hopes of securing a big domestic clash against Ashley Sexton on the undercard of Haye-Harrison were dashed when Sexton was ruled out with the flu. Instead, Edwards had to make do with a four-round ticking over job against Francis Croes last month, which he comfortably won on points to improve his misleading record to 15-14-3.

In the meantime, Shindjuu has racked up three successive stoppage wins in his homeland which included a fourth round KO over Juma Fundi in a Commonwealth eliminator to earn him another crack at Edwards.