Premier League predictions: Chris Sutton v boxer Sunny Edwards
Edwards is from Croydon but Chelsea were the only team for him as a boy.
“My dad supported them and I was born and raised to be a Blue,” he told BBC Sport. “When I was growing up, from my duvet to my wallpaper, everything in my bedroom was always Chelsea.
“I had a few different favourite players down the years, starting with Dennis Wise. Then there was the likes of Arjen Robben and Eden Hazard, and Didier Drogba is an absolute legend too.
“When I was a kid, I was really into it and would feel the pressure when we were playing big games and I’d have to go into school the next day. I remember crying when we lost the Champions League final to Manchester United in 2008.
“I still follow them now and try and catch a game here and there, but there are only so many weekends in a year and boxing takes up a lot of them for me now.
“We are not at the level we were at when I was growing up, but it has already been a much better season than last year.
“I genuinely believe Cole Palmer is the best player in the Premier League at the moment. I was there when he made his first start for us – against Brighton in the Carabao Cup last year – and he stood out by a country mile.
“I was screaming at Gareth Southgate to get him on the pitch for England at Euro 2024, and then every time he played I was going ‘see, see – look at the magic!'”
Edwards has been training in the west midlands ahead of facing Yafai at the Resorts World Arena, and has a soft spot for a local team too.
“I want to give a shout out to North Solihull Athletic, who play just round the corner from me,” he added. “The manager, Bradley White, is a good friend of mine and a few of the lads will be at the show.
“They are the comeback kings. Bradley has taken over a team that looked like they were going nowhere and has just won eight games in a row.
“I don’t get to play much football myself anymore but I am on EA Sports FC a lot. I have made 250 appearances, all from this one training camp.
“I play with Bradley and we are in the top 50 Pro clubs teams in the world,, external which I think is impressive, so a shout out to our team, GoingHamNoPork, too.
Chris Sutton and Sunny Edwards were speaking to BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.
