Don't be a flash Charlie! Edwards must not ruin his own future after becoming first of Britain's new generation to defend a world title
- Charlie Edwards put on the Saturday night razzle-dazzle to defeat Angel Moreno
- Edwards is the first of Britain's new generation to successfully defend his title
- Fellow Briton Joshua Buatsi earned win over Liam Conroy on the undercard
- Lawrence Okolie also beat Wadi Kamacho by knockout at the Copperbox
Charlie Edwards put on the Saturday night razzle-dazzle to become the first of Britain's new generation of ring-stars in the making not only to win but now successfully defend a world title.
The dazzle was brilliant as the WBC fly-weight champion took a walk in the Olympic Park to shut-out victory over Spanish challenger Angel Moreno.
The razzle cast an unwelcome shadow over a performance which should have been remembered solely for the skills upon which Edwards may indeed build a pedestal in the boxing pantheon which is his ambition.
![Charlie Edwards put on the Saturday night razzle-dazzle to successfully defend his world title](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/03/24/22/11404308-0-image-a-17_1553465970528.jpg)
Charlie Edwards put on the Saturday night razzle-dazzle to successfully defend his world title
Master Edwards is an exciting young talent. Charlie Boy must not spoil his own future.
The blistering speed of hand and foot, along with the ring-craft, won every round in a unanimous points decision magnified to 120-107 by a questionable knock-down awarded even though Moreno appeared to slip.
The self-indulgent show-boating was an unnecessary distraction from his potential.
Edwards took time out from his virtual master-class by copying the way Billy Joe Saunders sometimes poses to watch a widely missed punch as if it is heading off into the audience.
![Blistering speed, along with the ring-craft, won every round in a unanimous points decision](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/03/24/22/11404320-0-image-a-18_1553465985051.jpg)
Blistering speed, along with the ring-craft, won every round in a unanimous points decision
When he returned to his corner he was given a proper telling off by trainer Grant Smith. Unabashed, he then taunted Moreno by dropping his hands to his side and sticking out his chin.
The Spanish veteran, who gamely gave Edwards 12 rounds of useful experience despite taking a battering, did not deserve such professional disrespect. To make it worse, this under-sized, over-matched and therefore hand-picked opponent is one of Edwards' former sparring partners.
Now, it is never easy for the smaller boxers to attract attention and with the Copper Box barely half-full Edwards hinted at a need to entertain the crowd.
But what the fans really want, rather than posturing, is knock-outs. And this young man's record - only six stoppages in 15 bouts - indicates that he finds them hard to provide.
So Billy Joe, who has also been taken the distance by more than half his opponents, is hardly the ideal role model.
Punching power shortages can be corrected but only by specific training. Not by performing the Ali Shuffle, which Edwards also attempted.
While he is rich in the promise of a world title-unifying career, he will never be The Greatest.
![He must decide how he wants to go down in history - as Mister Edwards or Flash Charlie?](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/03/24/22/11404316-0-image-a-19_1553466002454.jpg)
He must decide how he wants to go down in history - as Mister Edwards or Flash Charlie?
So who does he want to go down in history? Mister Edwards or Flash Charlie?
The choice is his.
By contrast, in the preceding fight, Joshua Buatsi went about his business with devastating, single-minded intent as he added the British light-heavyweight championship to his claim for a world title shot. That opportunity could come as early as this winter.
Liam Conroy was riding an eight-win streak but lasted less than three rounds. Buatsi put him down once with a flurry of punches, then finished him off with a pile-driver right.
The eighth KO of Buatsi's ten unbeaten pro fights has probably earned him a US debut on the June 1 undercard of Anthony Joshua's world heavyweight title defence against Jarrell Miller in New York.
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