Wednesday 28 January 2015 15:36, UK
Former British champion Charlie Magri has backed young boxer Charlie Edwards to go all the way to the top of the professional game.
Magri famously won the British Flyweight title in just his third fight when he was 21, the same age as Edwards who makes his pro debut against Craig Derbyshire at the O2 on Saturday, live on Sky Sports.
He's got a great chance to become a World champion, he looks the part and you can feel it just talking to him
‘Champagne Charlie’ went on to win World and European titles after a fine amateur background himself, and with Edwards carrying an impressive CV from Team GB into the paid ranks, Magri believes he can follow in his footsteps.
"He's got a great chance to become a world champion, he looks the part and you can feel it just talking to him,” he said.
“He's got a wise head on young shoulders. I used to know if I was going to have a hard fight or it just by talking to a fighter and looking at how they carried themselves, and Charlie has that confidence already.
"He looks like a he loves to train and you can see that he wants it, he's got everything.”
Magri met up with Edwards ahead of Saturday night’s action and gave the Croydon youngster a few pointers.
“Charlie looked at me and said he could tell I was a fighter just by the look and shape of me,” said Edwards.
“He gave me some good tips, telling me not to headhunt, telling me not to kill myself at the weight and look at moving
up if the weight is becoming an issue.
"He said he felt strong in sparring bigger guys but always had in his head that he was a flyweight. It was great to see him and hold his WBC world title belt, that was a thrill and that's the belt everyone wants.”
Edwards’ professional debut is on the same bill as Kevin Mitchell's fight with Daniel Estrada for the vacant WBC Silver Lightweight title and World title eliminator.
John Ryder also defends his WBO Inter-Continental middleweight title against Billi Godoy.
There’s a tasty pair of light welterweight bouts as John Wayne Hibbert and Tyler Goodjohn meet for Hibbert’s WBC
International strap and Tommy Martin and Ricky Boylan square up for the vacant English title.
