Edwards impresses in quick-fire debut

Jamie Edwards…impressive pro debut. Pix: Jack Perry

STEFAN Vincent is known to West Midlands fans.

I’ve watched the Dorset light-welter from ringside on a number of occasions. He was outpointed last month by red hot prospect Niall Farrell, Ryan Griffiths was given a standing count against the 32-year-old in Tommy Owens’ lightweight Top Boxer tournament before prevailing on points.

Vincent is usually awkward, tricky and durable.

Yet on last night’s sell-out BCB show at the Holiday Inn, Birmingham city centre, Vincent was blown away in two by Coventry newcomer Jamie Edwards.

That was the first time Stefan has failed to hear the final bell.

Of all the debuts on the bill, Edwards provided the one that really made me sit-up and take notice. Vincent – a man who carries the ring nickname The Wasp – was well and truly stung.

He simply had no answer to aggressive Edwards’ right hand and was rightly saved at two minutes two seconds of the second. By then, the Christchurch boxer’s nose was bloody, his legs had the strength of wet bootlaces in the wind.

Vincent sportingly applauds as Edwards has his hand raised

He was done.

Vincent (10st 4lbs) was upright and tried to keep it long, but Edwards (10st 1lbs) timed those rights to perfection. They were hurtful.

One sent Stefan sprawling for seven in the opener and two more booming rights smashed against the south coast boxer’s jaw before the bell.

It appeared only a matter of time before Vincent, who has now lost eight of 10, succumbed and he was rightly saved after another big right caused him to dance crazily across the ring, hands hanging down. He resembled a puppet whose strings had been cut.

“I had prepared for it to go longer,” Edwards said, “but once I’d got him down, I went for it.”

He added: “I’m over the moon, I feel all the emotions.”

It was, on paper, a tricky debut destined to go all four rounds. Edwards made it look very easy.

It marks him as one to watch.