Sunny Edwards and Regis Prograis deliver statement victories in Dubai

Sunny Edwards turned his attention to unifying the flyweight division after the British fighter retained his IBF world title with a comfortable points win over Muhammad Waseem in Dubai on Saturday night, while American Regis Prograis earned a shot at the WBC's super-lightweight world title.

Edwards defeated Pakistan’s Waseem after 12 rounds with scores of 115-111, 116-110 and 115-110 from the ringside judges. In the preceding fight at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, Prograis beat Tyrone McKenna in their title eliminator after the fight was stopped in the sixth round due to a nasty cut above the Irishman's eye.

Waseem, who was bidding to become his country’s first ever world champion, tried to make the fight a war of attrition but he was deducted points in rounds six and seven.

Edwards described his opponent as “world class” but felt he was a clear winner and after the victory, repeated his desire to face Mexico's WBC champion Julio Cesar Martinez next in the biggest fight that can be made in the 115lbs division.

“Muhammad is a world class operator and he and his team came with a good game plan,” said Edwards, who extended his unbeaten professional record to 18 fights. “There was a lot on the line tonight but I didn’t want to just run, run, run, I wanted to mix it up and I felt I won comfortably in the end.

“I now want the Ring Magazine belt and the WBC title, and I know Martinez wants the fight so let’s make it happen. It will be huge.”

Waseem, who’s record now reads 12-2, accepted that Edwards deserved to keep his IBF belt but he was unhappy with the referee for taking points off him.

“Congratulations to Sunny tonight, he was the better man,” said Waseem. “I felt it was very unfair of the referee to take points off