Critics are expecting a clean win from Edwards over Waseem in a one sided match up, but can Muhammad pull away with the win? Our betting pick focuses on the style matchup and money line bet for the Sunny Edwards vs Muhammad Waseem boxing main event on March 19th, 2022 for the IBF World Boxing Title. Place your bets before 4:00PM ET as the fight takes place in Dubai, UAE.
Sunny Edwards vs Muhammad Waseem Betting Pick
Sunny is a fantastic decision fighter that has picked apart the best the flyweight division has to offer. He dismantled the gameplans of stronger boxers, including Mthalane, the only fighter to beat Waseem. Expect a 12 round clinic in technical british boxing.
Story of the Fight
Waseem is the #10 Flyweight in the world but the #1 in Pakistan and the Middle East. He currently holds the WBC Silver Fly Title. Sunny is the reigning champion holding the IBF title. Sunny is expected to wear down Waseem in a methodical decision win, while Waseem has the puncher’s chance and knockout power to go with it.
Tale of the Tape for
| Fighter | Sunny ‘Showtime’ Edwards | Muhammad ‘Falcon’ Waseem |
| Ranking | #1 | #10 |
| Age | 26 | 34 |
| Height | 5’3’’ | 5’6’’ |
| Reach | NA | 66’’ |
| Total Fights | 17 | 13 |
| Record | 17-0 | 12-1 |
| Knockouts | 4, 23% | 8, 61% |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Career rounds |
125 | 89 |
| Inactivity | 98 Days | 113 Days |
| Normal
Weight class |
Light | Light |
| Boxing trainer | Grant Smith | Muhammat Tariq, Fransisco Ronald, Others |
Sunny is giving up height and reach to the challenger on paper, but they look the same build in pictures and video of weigh-ins. It’s not uncommon to exaggerate build to throw off opponents, I would say Waseem is no taller than 5’4’’.
NEWS: SUNNY EDWARDS VS MUHAMMAD WASEEM WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND RUNNING ORDER https://t.co/xMCYLJdVKU @IBFUSBAboxing @probellum @SunnyEdwards pic.twitter.com/nCw9A2dL1l
— Go Boxing (@go_boxing) March 18, 2022
Maybe it’s the hat, but that’s not a three inch height advantage.
The knockout percentage difference is dramatic, but Sunny has been fighting high caliber fighters for his last six bouts at least, including undefeated Jayson Mama and the 39-2 Moruti Mthalane. Waseem lost to Mthalane via decision in 2018 and has knocked out a majority lower level fighter. His biggest win was over the undefeated Magramo in 2016 after Magramo lost a point from a headbutt in a very strange fight and decision. From an odds and betting perspective, the knockout percentage means less than it should because of their opponent’s caliber. Sunny Edwards vs Muhammad Waseem is a fight where every advantage needs to add up for a Waseem bet to even be considered.
Comparing the Fighters Trainers
Grant Smith is an elusive legend and a great boxer in his own right. He’s currently only training Sunny and his son, undefeated Dalton Smith. Smith is considered one of the top five trainers in London, and his work with Denis Radovan proved it.
Wassem’s current trainer is unknown, but he’s worked with the recently deceased champion Muhammad Tariq and was on an onlympic team under legend Francisco Ronald.
I see the consistent tutelage of Grant Smith to be a boon on any bets for Sunny.
Betting Odds for Edwards vs Waseem
| Bet | Odds for Money Lines on March 19th, 2022 |
| Sunny Edwards Money Line | -2000 |
| Muhammad Waseem Money Line | +1000 |
Sunny was a -280 over Jayson Mama and upset Mthalane at +130. He’s ranged from -600 to -3000 in eleven other bouts since 2019. Waseem was a favorite in his bout with Mthalane, fumbling at -165. He’s won all other fights from -900 to -2500. There are currently no prop bets for this fight. Sunny’s money line is $0.05 per dollar wagered, but a good addition to any parlay ticket through a big weekend in boxing.
Boxing Analysis for Edwards vs Waseem
The Mthalane fight is telling in how both fighters approach a win. Waseem relies on his power. It’s not just a feature of his boxing, he needs to land big shots to win. Edwards is a cumulation striker, with good head movement. He’s been called ‘Price Naseem Version 2.”
Edwards has a style focused on not getting hit and bating fighters into punches they shouldn’t take.
Edwards, Waseem vs Mthalane
Mthlane couldn’t find his range against Edwards, an issue many fighters have. Going to the body didn’t seem to help as Edwards kept counterpunching off the back foot. Watching his performance versus Waseem’s, you get a feel for the Edwards vs Waseem odds having such a wide gap.
Mthalane was landing on the gloves of Waseem from the opening bell. He was hoping to feel out Mthalane, but instead he was simply worn down. Staying in Mthalane’s range was a mistake, and Muhammed has heavy hands but slow feet. He plants his feet to strike and I think he’ll be chasing Edwards with no significant strikes the whole night.
How can Muhammed Waseem Beat Sunny Edwards?
Waseem needs to go to the body early with hooks to corral Edwards into standing still. He can play with his jab more than he did in the Mthalane fight. Dealing with Sunny’s head movement can be done with body shots or a bit of dirty fighting. Waseem would charge into the pocket, punch, and then tie up to stop the counter shot, weighing on the shorter fighter like a tiny Tyson Fury. Muhammed is more physical than Sunny, who likes to move and hardly ever finds himself in the clinch in any recent fights.
Waseem needs to improve on his defense and headmovmenet well beyond where it was against Mthalane in order to even have a chance of winning.
PLACE YOUR BETS NOW!
Edwards vs Waseem Boxing Pick Wrap Up
One worry is that in the UAE Waseem will be favored in an upset decision. I don’t think the fight will be close enough for that to make sense. Sunny’s betting odds are even a bit low for this fight, presumably because there are no props available. Having Edwards closer to the -3500 is realistic in my opinion. Waseem is in this fight, but he needs to box in a way we’ve never seen him perform before.
