The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games champion dominated the contest at bp pulse LIVE in Birmingham from the first round, and silenced his few critics with a superb performance.

• Read more | Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2: Date, UK start time, fight card, how to watch heavyweight title rematch

It marked a successful revenge mission for Yafai against Edwards, who defeated him by split decision as an amateur, and moves him closer to a likely title shot proper next year.

The latter physically struggled to deal with the assault delivered by his rival, and confirmed that he would hang up his gloves in the aftermath while paying tribute to Yafai.

"It means everything to me," Yafai told DAZN in the aftermath of the fight. "I think people underrate me. I won Olympic gold. It was my night tonight.

"Winning gold in the Olympics was the best achievement I could ever do but beating Sunny tonight was a better feeling that standing on that podium."

Though much has been made of the two men's history in the build-up to the fight, there was nothing but respect for each other afterwards in the ring.

Edwards, who held the IBF flyweight title for two years, came through the Team GB ranks with Yafai, and admitted he had wanted this to be his last dance.

"Win, lose or draw, I was retiring tonight," he added to DAZN. "I don't have the same energy that I had for the sport. I always want to compete with the best."

Yafai pressed from the opening bell and pinned Edwards on the ropes with an impressive combination in the first, before a melee of body shots in the second.

The latter physically appeared to be struggling with his legs in the ring, and the punishment only increased from there over the next three rounds of the contest.

However, it took a series of hooks in the sixth with Edwards backed into the corner for the referee to halt the fight, leaving Yafai to celebrate his biggest pro success yet.

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Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 and the full undercard will be broadcast live on DAZN Pay-Per-View worldwide in over 200 countries. 

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