IBF orders Sunny Edwards to face mandatory challenger Jayson Mama

Frank Warren shared some interesting tidbits in this week’s BT Sport column, including Tyson Fury’s planned July 24th trilogy match with Deontay Wilder, Jake Paul turning down a fight with Tommy Fury, and his desire to have Callum Johnson face Joshua Buatsi. As far as concrete fight info, he reports that Sunny Edwards’ first defense as IBF flyweight champion will come against mandatory challenger Jayson Mama, who previously accepted step-aside money to allow Edwards’ fight with Moruti Mthalane.

The fight “might” come in autumn.

The Philippines’ Mama (16-0, 9 KO) was all set to face Mthalane on December 20th in the latter’s native South Africa, only for the local sanctioning body, Boxing South Africa, to cancel it just days from fight night after the promoter “failed to meet basic requirements.” He’s since stayed busy with an April 30th tune-up win over countryman Romshane Sarguilla, who’s now lost five straight.

Meaning no disrespect to the 24-year-old, he’s definitely an IBF sort of mandatory; his best wins came over unsuccessful title challengers Teeraphong Utaida and Ekkawit Songnui.

Warren had this to say about the situation:

“I know a lot of people, including Sunny, have mentioned Julio Cesar Martinez as a fight they’ve love to see, especially after what happened when Julio fought Sunny’s brother! But here we are again stuck with a mandatory. We’ll do what we have to do to get that out of the way but it won’t be a bad fight by any means. Mama can fight!”

Edwards (16-0, 4 KO) definitely looked like a worthy challenger for the ultra-violent “Rey” in his win over Mthalane, so let’s hope that one comes together.