If Saturday’s fight with Andrew Cain represents the acid test of Charlie Edwards’ time under Stephen Smith, Edwards has revealed that Smith’s influence as a psychologist is proving its greatest asset.
The fight, for Cain’s British and Commonwealth bantamweight titles on the undercard of Nick Ball-TJ Doheny at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, is the third since former WBC flyweight champion Edwards recruited the inexperienced Smith as his trainer.
It is also the third since the 32 year old agreed promotional terms with Wasserman Boxing following a period of inactivity that threatened his career when he perhaps ought to have been reaching his prime, and therefore the third since a period struggling with his mental health.
Edwards is capable of being the most emotional of fighters, and in agreeing to fight the heavy-handed Cain in Cain’s home city on the promotion of Queensberry Promotions, who guide the champion’s career, he has also taken a risk.
Yet where once there was a time that Edwards may have recognized that reality, he is instead relaxed, and confident, and largely because of his trainer’s success in reassuring his overactive mind.
“He’s great with my mind,” Edwards told BoxingScene. “He knows how to get me going; he knows how to speak to me; how to explain things. He knows how to pull me back a little bit, when I’ve always been an over-trainer; many times I’ve over-trained ‘cause I was a bit insecure, and thought I had to go into lunatic mode. He’s talked me round; got into my head; sets game plans; we watch the fights; we discuss the fights; he’s brought my game on to a new level.
“The many, many years where I got left in the graveyard, and nothing was happening… But that was the best thing that ever happened because it developed me into a different character; to grow up as a man, and brought me closer to God and give me faith. All that had to happen to get me to where I am today. It’s my first fight in an arena for five years. Wait until I walk into that arena on Saturday night.
“What I’ve been through and what I’ve had to endure forced me to man up. Stephen adds to it. I’m not going to go on that mental-health episode anymore – I was insecure. I was young. I was tossed into the limelight. I felt I got shat on, and it was a very tough-and-challenging time. But that’s life. I grew through that, and passed that, and it’s made me a stronger man today. I had to walk that path, and being linked with Stephen – I was already through that episode. [But] Stephen knows how to talk to me and get the best out of me – I want to make that clear.
“It just worked out that he went into coaching at the right time, when I was left in no man’s land. I took a gamble, but it was the best gamble I’ve ever taken. In hindsight, I’m so happy and so grateful that our paths crossed. I’ve come on leaps and bounds. He’s still doing a really amazing job with me, and on Saturday night I believe you’ll see the best Charlie Edwards. Everyone will stand up, take note, and realise what a job Stephen has done on me.
“The last two fighters [opponents Georges Ory and Thomas Essomba] were two southpaws; you can’t really read too much into an orthodox fighter fighting a southpaw; they’re different game plans and there’s different things you’ve got to watch out for. I’m going up against an orthodox fighter again, and I believe I’m going to really expose him in a lot of ways. I’m going to show everyone who Charlie Edwards actually is. The best is yet to come, and it’ll showcase Stephen’s work and what he’s put into me.”
The 28-year-old Cain is unproven at the level Edwards has long been established at, but poses a threat above and beyond that of Georges Ory and Thomas Essomba, Edwards’ previous two opponents.
Against Ory in April 2024, Edwards was fluid and balanced and appeared to enjoy himself. Against Essomba in September he underperformed, yet still won via a deserved unanimous decision, which he cannot realistically expect to against Cain unless he improves.
“He’s a good fighter,” Edwards explained. “But that’s what I need – I need a good fighter in front of me to bring out the best in me. To keep them butterflies in the stomach; to keep that little bit of anxiety there, that makes me razor sharp and razor reactive. He’s got 13 wins and 12 knockouts; you have to be able to be a good fighter to find them knockouts
“He can punch. He can crack. He likes to put feints in, and he’s got a good boxing brain. You don’t come through the amateurs and win titles if you haven’t got a good boxing brain. I just feel like I’m a better boxer; I’ve got a better IQ than him, and my footwork and my movement is going to bamboozle him. I’ve been trialled and tested and been in with big punchers. I know what I did wrong. I’ve had many, many 12 rounds. Andrew has only been 10 rounds once, and he got beat off Ionut Baluta [of Romania, in 2023]. Yep, he can punch; yes, he’s dangerous. But you can nullify that and take it away.
“I’m a much more experienced fighter. I’m more mature. I’m very strong at this weight now; my confidence has grown. My boxing IQ is through the roof – my trap setting – and the way I’m punching now. I’m 32; I’ve always been a bit of a late developer; I’ve really gained my man strength and I look forward to showcasing everything.
“I’m in Liverpool. I’ve been in Liverpool for years. I’ve got a lot of friends up here and a lot of people here that support me, and I’m with the Smiths, and they’ve got a massive support network too. It’ll be interesting to see where the crowd’s actually gonna be cheering.”