Jamie eyes bigger things after beating an elusive opponent

Jamie Edwards searches for openings. Pic: Manjit Narotra/BCB

THE slog of roadwork and sprints proved a vital part of Jamie Edwards’ preparation for Saturday’s return to action.

Because the heavy-hitting Coventry talent probably covered a half-marathon attempting to pin down Karl Sampson who darted from left to right and continually skirted the ring perimeter. The Sheffield veteran’s fitness has to be admired.

And on BCB’s Aldersley Stadium, Wolverhampton, show, Karl, with close to 90 bouts under his belt, did what he came to do. He survived the distance.

Referee Ryan Churchill scored the bout an emphatic 80-70 for Midlands lightweight champ Edwards, now unbeaten in nine.

In layman’s terms, the visitor lost an eight rounds contest by 10 rounds, courtesy of a knockdown in the third and points deduction for spoiling in the seventh.

Now 28-year-old Jamie eyes bigger things – but those will not included a title defence against fellow red-hot Coventry prospect Huey Malone, a match called for by the Midlands’ Boxing Board of Control. That would’ve been a dream clash for the city.

In his dressing room after the weekend win, Edwards confirmed he can no longer comfortably make the lightweight limit and will vacate the belt. “I have to listen to my body, I won’t go back to that weight again,” he said.

He emerged satisfied with his performance against an awkward opponent. “I’m glad I got the rounds in,” Jamie said. “Every fight is a lesson and that was a good lesson.”

Jamie Edwards after beating Karl Sampson on Saturday

Jamie, tall and lean, came in at 10st 1lbs – super-lightweight – and admitted: “I felt a lot fitter, could’ve done more rounds, I think I boxed nice and clean. We’ll take the win and learn from it. He did say the body shots were hurting him.”

I felt Edwards could’ve let his hands go more, instead of looking to deliver damaging shots: With an opponent as elusive as Sampson, you have to constantly let both fists go, don’t be afraid of missing.

But what Edwards did earned him a victory that was beyond a whitewash. Therefore, it has to be admitted what he did worked. It’s also hard to shine against an opponent adverse to opening up and taking risks.

Sampson (10st 2lbs) set out his stall in the first, switching stances, moving constantly as Edwards followed firing stiff jabs.

By the second I’d already written “frustrating night for Edwards” who doubled that hard left lead and tried to plant rights.

In the third, referee Churchill’s patience was already wearing thin. He called both to centre ring in a call to tidy things up, which was harsh on Edwards. He was trying to make a fight of it.

The lecture paid dividends. Close to the end of a session, Jamie drove a right uppercut that sent Sampson slumping to the canvas. He took a count of six on one knee, but the bell prevented Edwards from mounting a follow-up attack.

That scare only quickened Sampson’s retreat, although Jamie enjoyed more success in the fourth. He connected with jabs, landing to the body, rattled Sampson with a hard right to the head in the fifth.

Under pressure Sampson clutched tightly at the end of the sixth and was docked a point in the seventh as Edwards stepped up the action.

He did land a right to the body in the eighth, although it was a very rare success.

Edwards’ last fight, his Midlands title victory over Harvey Sturton, was a small hall classic, this one failed to catch fire because Sturton, aware of his opponent’s power, was in no mood to play with fire.

On social media, Edwards simply posted: “Another successful outing. Experience gained. We roll on – one step closer.”

That’s one step closer to the English title fight both Edwards and his team want. He has the power, Saturday was a test of his patience.