Sunny Edwards (UD 12) and Regis Prograis (TKO 6) Victorious in Dubai

Sunny Edwards (UD 12) and Regis Prograis (TKO 6) Victorious in Dubai

Probellum, the “global boxing promotion and media company” founded last year by former Swiss banker and former Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, was at Duty Free Tennis Stadium in Dubai, UAE, this weekend with back-to-back shows, the second of which was anchored by a legitimate title fight that saw Sunny Edwards successfully defend his IBF 112-pound title with a unanimous decision over Muhammad Waseem. A 26-year-old Londoner and the younger brother of former WBC flyweight title-holder Charlie Edwards, Sunny Edwards was making the second defense of the title he won with a comfortable decision over long-reigning title-holder Moruti Mthalane.

Edwards, who improved to 18-0 (4), would really be something if only he packed a hard punch. Defensively he’s a wizard. A 12/1 favorite, he pretty much had his way with his Pakistani opponent, winning by scores of 116-110 and 115-111 twice. The 34-year-old Waseem, the subject of a 2018 profile in these pages, got no breaks from the referee who deducted a point from his score in round six and again in round seven, the first for excessive holding and the second for leading with his head. His record declined to 12-2 with both losses coming in title fights.

After the bout, Edwards called out WBC title-holder Julio Cesar Martinez. The Mexican fought Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez earlier this month and although he was outclassed, ending his 18-fight winning streak, his title wasn’t at stake.

Co-Main

In a bout packaged as a WBC junior welterweight eliminator, Regis Prograis (27-1, 23 KOs) had no difficulty turning away Belfast’s Tyrone McKenna (22-3-1) who was pulled out by the ringside physician at the 1:40 mark of round six.

A 25/1 favorite although giving up five inches in height, the 33-year-old New Orleans native had McKenna on the canvas in round two and opened a bad cut over the Irishman’s right eye. McKenna was game but overmatched and may want to consider leaving the sport to resurrect his acting career (he earned raves for his performance as the 14-year-old Donal in the 2005 movie “The Mighty Celt”).

Probellum’s newest signee Jack Catterall was in attendance and Prograis called him out after the fact. As an aside, with Josh Taylor moving to 147, Regis Prograis has a legitimate claim to being the best 140-pound boxer out there, title or no title.

Doheny

In a featherweight contest slated for 10, 35-year-old globetrotter TJ Doheny, from Australia and Massachusetts by way of Ireland, turned in one of the best performances of his career with a second- round blast-out of Mexico’s Cesar Juarez.

Doheny (23-3, 17 KOs) floored Juarez (29-11) with a left hook and then swarmed all over him, forcing the referee to halt the assault. A former two-time world title challenger at 122 pounds, the 30-year-old Juarez lost for the fourth time in his last five outings. The official time was 2:23.

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