Noons, Edwards Verbally Commit to Showdown
Yves Edwards (Pictures) will get his chance to swipe the
EliteXC lightweight title from the hands of champion Karl James Noons (Pictures) on April 26 in Honolulu, the
American Top Team fighter confirmed on today's Savage Dog Show on
the Sherdog Radio Network.
Edwards (33-13-1) said the only thing holding up an official announcement is his signature but that he would be inking the contract as soon as he gets it.
"We have agreed on the fight, and I just can't wait to get in there and do this," Edwards said.
Noons (6-2-0) defeated Nick Diaz (Pictures) in November to claim the EliteXC lightweight strap. This will be the 25-year-old's first defense. He also confirmed the imminent nature of the bout to Sherdog.com.
"We are moving forward, getting the paperwork done, and yeah, it's gonna happen," Noons said.
Diaz's camp has been very vocal about a rematch with Noons, firing up the champion with charges he was ducking their guy.
"I can't duck anyone," declared an animated Noons. "A rematch [with Diaz] would be great. I would make a lot of money. But I have to fight the top guy as the champion. Right now that guy is Yves Edwards (Pictures)."
While he won't be squaring off against Diaz again for now, Noons will have to face a friend in the 31-year-old Edwards, who happens to have been one of the top lightweights in the world before falling on hard times over the past couple of years. Edwards dropped five out of six fights over a two-year stretch before rattling off three wins in a row over the last three months. He capped his amazing resurgence with a highlight-reel knockout of Edson Berto at Saturday's EliteXC show in Miami.
"As a friend and as a fan, I am looking forward to the match with Yves," Noons commented.
Said the rejuvenated Edwards: "We go back a long way, and even though everyone is telling me you have the experience factor and all that, I am not sleeping on this one. I have a lot of respect for KJ and I am really excited to get to fight him."
As for fighting a friend, Edwards reiterated his statement from his post-fight interview.
"It is never fun to fight a friend, but if you are not in this business to win world titles, you are in the wrong business," he said. "He's got that gold, and I have to go through him to get it."
Edwards (33-13-1) said the only thing holding up an official announcement is his signature but that he would be inking the contract as soon as he gets it.
"We have agreed on the fight, and I just can't wait to get in there and do this," Edwards said.
Noons (6-2-0) defeated Nick Diaz (Pictures) in November to claim the EliteXC lightweight strap. This will be the 25-year-old's first defense. He also confirmed the imminent nature of the bout to Sherdog.com.
"We are moving forward, getting the paperwork done, and yeah, it's gonna happen," Noons said.
Diaz's camp has been very vocal about a rematch with Noons, firing up the champion with charges he was ducking their guy.
"I can't duck anyone," declared an animated Noons. "A rematch [with Diaz] would be great. I would make a lot of money. But I have to fight the top guy as the champion. Right now that guy is Yves Edwards (Pictures)."
While he won't be squaring off against Diaz again for now, Noons will have to face a friend in the 31-year-old Edwards, who happens to have been one of the top lightweights in the world before falling on hard times over the past couple of years. Edwards dropped five out of six fights over a two-year stretch before rattling off three wins in a row over the last three months. He capped his amazing resurgence with a highlight-reel knockout of Edson Berto at Saturday's EliteXC show in Miami.
"As a friend and as a fan, I am looking forward to the match with Yves," Noons commented.
Said the rejuvenated Edwards: "We go back a long way, and even though everyone is telling me you have the experience factor and all that, I am not sleeping on this one. I have a lot of respect for KJ and I am really excited to get to fight him."
As for fighting a friend, Edwards reiterated his statement from his post-fight interview.
"It is never fun to fight a friend, but if you are not in this business to win world titles, you are in the wrong business," he said. "He's got that gold, and I have to go through him to get it."
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