Nqothole (22-3, 13 KOs) won by scores of 117-111, 116-112 and 116-113 after controlling much of the match with his jab, footwork and cleaner work from distance. The South African arrived as the underdog on foreign soil, but looked comfortable for long periods against the former WBC flyweight champion.
Edwards (21-3, 7 KOs) struggled to mount a consistent attack during the first half of the fight and spent much of the night reacting to Nqothole’s movement and timing. When Edwards tried to close the distance, Nqothole was often able to walk away and answer with sharp counters.
The Englishman had more success late in the fight and went on to rally over the championship rounds. He landed some of his cleaner punches in the closing stages and tried to force the action, but the early rounds had already created a significant deficit on the scorecards.
Nqothole’s performance was notable because it came without the benefit of home advantage. The judges rewarded the visitor’s work, and most unofficial scorecards closely matched the official verdict.
The victory moves Nqothole into position as the mandatory challenger for the IBF super flyweight title. He is expected to face the winner of the June 6 championship fight between Willibaldo Garcia and Andrew Moloney later this year.
For Edwards, the loss represents another setback in a career that has produced both championship success and frustrating near misses. At 33, he entered the fight hoping to put himself one win away from a second world title. Instead, he leaves York Hall with his third professional loss and with his path back to a championship fight looking much more difficult than a week ago.
