Lewis Edmondson is looking for a fight.
The 28-year-old from Southampton is unbeaten in eight professional appearances and appears to be on the brink of a breakthrough since stopping former Commonwealth champion Luke Blackledge almost three years ago.
Despite his best efforts both in and out of the ring, the 175-pound British rival has yet to take the bait.
At the top of his hit list is Ben Whittaker. Edmondson has had his sights set on the Olympic silver medalist since the two met at a press conference last December. Whittaker’s star is rapidly rising and he is becoming the type of crossover star the sports world covets. For now, boxing fans seem happy to watch his repertoire of tricks regardless of the fight, but sooner or later the 26-year-old will face a tougher test of his skills.
Whittaker outclassed Leon Willings last month, going eight rounds, and an all-British grudge match with an ambitious, undefeated fighter like Edmundson looks like the ideal move this summer.
In an interview with Jayden Angela on the 6181 podcast, Edmondson expressed his belief that Whittaker is more focused on the show than the business, at least for now.
He said, “Honestly, the more I watch it, the more I laugh.” “Of course I want to fight him,” Edmondson said. “I want to fight anyone in my division at my level because I know where I stand.” They’re not those guys. If they were so confident in their abilities, he should have said to (promoter) Ben Shalom, “Let’s get him in the ring” – as I say, I’ll show you what I’m capable of. But that’s not him
Even if Whittaker chooses a different path, Edmondson has plenty of other goals to look to. The business side of the British light heavyweight division may be thriving at the moment, but the talent is deep.
Ezra Taylor is the latest fighter to add his name to the list of candidates. It’s no exaggeration to say that the undefeated 29-year-old has exploded onto the scene, stopping Joel McIntyre last September and knocking out struggling Prince Oko Ngati in the fourth round last month. It left a big impression on me. Edmondson would welcome a meaningful fight against a domestic rival, but he doesn’t think they feel the same way. “They don’t have it in the tank.” “You don’t have the courage,” he continued, laughing. “That’s what they’re missing,” Ezra Taylor said in a recent interview. They said, “Louis Edmondson keeps calling you. Do you want that?” “Oh, yeah.” Hmm. We want a big fight. what is that? If you think you’re that good, say it from your chest, because I’ll say it straight to his head: “I’ll break his neck in four rounds, but he doesn’t have the same confidence, he doesn’t have the same energy.” I have you around me, but they don’t raise their voices because they know the battle is decided.
“They would reach out and the promoter would say, ‘Okay, babe.’ Then you fight him. That’s why they are silent.
