Charlie Edwards Faces Sikho Nqothole in IBF Final Eliminator

charlie edwards is back in position for a major title route on Friday, when he faces Sikho Nqothole in an IBF super-flyweight final eliminator in London. A win would move him toward a world title shot against the winner of Willibaldo Garcia Perez versus Andrew Moloney.

Edwards Seeks Another Title Run

Edwards said the chance would mean more than the first time he became champion. He won the WBC flyweight title in 2018, then vacated it in October 2019 to move up in weight, and now has a route back into world-level contention at 33.

“It would mean the world to me, probably even more so than the first time around because they say it's hard to get to the top of the mountain once but trust me, it's even harder to get there twice,” Edwards said before the fight.

Stephen Smith’s Camp

He has rebuilt from a setback last year, when Andrew Cain handed him the second defeat of his professional career. Edwards responded with a win over Salvador Juarez before this fight was arranged, and he says the work with trainer Stephen Smith has sharpened him further.

“Training has gone great. It's been the best camp we've had together so far. This camp we've really focused on worrying about myself, training myself and pushing myself to be the best Charlie Edwards rather than worrying about opponents too much,” he said.

Nqothole Brings Power

Nqothole enters with 21 wins, 13 by knockout, and three losses. Edwards described him as a good fighter with long arms, more height and hard punches, a test that will ask whether the former champion can carry that rebuilt form into a final eliminator.

Edwards lives in Portugal with his wife and daughter, but trains in the UK with Smith. He said the road back has required patience and repetition, calling it “a very, very long staircase” to get to this point, and Friday gives him the next step toward a second world title chance.