Nqothole’s power proved to be a significant factor throughout the contest. Edwards struggled with the South African’s right hand early, and Nqothole hurt him in the third round with a combination that left the Englishman’s legs unsteady.

Although Edwards found success during the middle rounds and increased his output late in the fight, he was unable to overcome the deficit he had built on the scorecards. Several of his strongest attacks came in the ninth through 11th rounds, but Nqothole continued to land the cleaner and heavier punches.

The final round appeared to remove any remaining doubt. Nqothole landed sharply with his jab and right hand, while Edwards spent portions of the round attempting to draw mistakes from his opponent rather than forcing the action.

Both fighters celebrated after the final bell, but the judges were unanimous in favor of Nqothole, who earned the biggest victory of his career and a direct path to an IBF world title fight.

The defeat drops Edwards to 21-3 (7 KOs). The former flyweight world champion indicated afterward that he will take time to consider his future in the sport.