Croydon’s Charlie Edwards happier after Portugal move and confirms he has parted company with Sheffield-based trainer Grant Smith
Charlie Edwards has migrated to Portugal and believes the Algarve is the ideal base as he plots his way to the top of the super-flyweight division.
The former WBC world flyweight champion, 28, moved to Vilamoura with his wife Kristin and their baby daughter Sofia last month.
Edwards jumped to bantamweight for his Queensberry Promotions debut last September when he outpointed Kyle Williams, but is planning an attack on the 115lb division when he returns to action.
He said: “This is the first time in 17 years that I have taken two months off completely. It has given me a new drive, new hunger and new ambition.
“I am training now and going to start more boxing training so I can get my flow back. My plan is to have a tough 10 or 12-rounder for an international title and then kick on.
“It has been nice to reset myself and move to a country where I feel happy and confident in myself again.
“The plan is to stay in Portugal. My missus and I have decided to move the family here. We want our daughter to grow up in a nice environment.
“Once our house has been sorted, which will be sooner rather than later, I can push on with my career.”
Edwards has left the Steel City gym in Sheffield where he was trained by Grant Smith.
“I have achieved all that I have set out to achieve on my career bucket list in the UK so I would like to train here, set up my own gym and eight weeks before a fight I may go to America,” said the Croydon fighter. “I also have another British coach in mind who I do want to try out in the UK, but I don’t want to go into details yet.”
Edwards relinquished his WBA belt after a no-contest against Mexico’s Julio Cesar Martinez in August 2019.
“I suffered a little bit especially around the Martinez fight – making flyweight and putting my health on the line,” he said. “I wasn’t enjoying it and fell into a bit of depression with the boxing side of things through having to make that light weight.”
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