FORMER English flyweight champion Charlie Magri, who also held the European and World Boxing Council titles, believes current British flyweight champion Charlie Edwards is a world champion in the making.
Magri made the prediction when Edwards made his pro debut at the O2 Arena in London, beating Craig Derbyshire by a 4th-round TKO on Jan. 31 last year.
Since then, Edwards had racked up a record of 8-0 with 3 knockouts.
Magri won the British Flyweight title in just his third fight when he was 21, the age that Edwards is as he enters the ring in Greenwich for his pro debut.
‘Champagne Charlie’ as Magri is referred to carries an impressive amateur background and the former legend believes Edwards can emulate his success.
“He’s got a great chance to become a world champion, he looks the part and you can feel it just talking to him. He’s got a wise head on young shoulders. I used to know if I was going to have a hard fight just by talking to a fighter and looking at how they carried themselves, and Charlie has that confidence already. He looks like a he loves to train and you can see that he wants it, he’s got everything,” Magri said.
He met Edwards ahead of his pro debut and gave the Croydon youngster some pointers ahead of his big night at The O2.
“Charlie looked at me and said he could tell I was a fighter just by the look and shape of me,” said Edwards. “He gave me some good tips, telling me not to headhunt, not to kill myself at the weight, look at moving up if the weight is becoming an issue. He said he felt strong in sparring bigger guys but always had in his head that he was a flyweight. It was great to see him and hold his WBC World title belt, that was a thrill and that’s the belt everyone wants.”
Right now, Edwards is going after the IBF belt held by two-division Filipino world champion Johnreil Casimero at the O2 Arena in London on Sept. 10.
