Modern boxing is a 24 hour industry but it still has the capacity to occasionally shock.

The news that Andrew Cain, 13-1 (12 KOs), and Charlie Edwards, 20-1 (7 KOs), had signed a deal to fight came as one of those all too rare fights which was announced without rumors leaking online and dampening its impact.

The bantamweights will meet at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena on March 15th on the undercard of Nick Ball’s WBA featherweight title defense against T.J Doheny. Cain will put his British and Commonwealth titles on the line whilst Edwards’ European belt will also be up for grabs. The fight will also have serious world title implications.

The dangerous Cain, 28, has always had the look of a fighter who would need to fight his way into a mandatory position in order to get a big name into the ring.

It was a given that he would jump at the chance to step up and face a fighter with Edwards’ reputation but the 31 year-old former WBC flyweight champion is in the midst of a high profile comeback and had been talking about a world title shot.

He sits at number four with the WBC and, just a few days before the announcement, he had been in Hamburg championing his cause at their annual convention. He is also ranked at number 5 by the WBO and number 12 with the IBF.

Cain admits that he was as surprised Edwards accepted the fight.

“Yeah, I was. He never really had many options, did he? But they've dangled a few more carrots in front of him now and they've made him take the fight,” he told The Ring.

“Deep down, he knows he's in for a tough night, I believe. He's tricky, isn't he? He's got his own attributes where he can make things difficult for you but I just believe as long as I come in and I set my shots up correct, I'll get him out of there.”

Cain is a vicious finisher with a fast, unorthodox style. Injuries and some early disillusionment with the sport are responsible for his slow rise but, since returning from the serious hand injuries he suffered during a brutal split decision loss to Ionut Baluta in March 2023, he has really hit his straps.

Forced onto the sidelines for over a year, the Liverpudlian decided to drop down from super bantamweight and has recorded three successive stoppages since returning at 118lbs last April.

In July he dominated Ash Lane to win the British and Commonwealth titles and, in a real show of support, his promoters, Queensberry, have now given him the perfect opportunity to prove himself against a top line domestic opponent.

He couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity.

“No, definitely not. He's a former world champion and he's achieved a lot and I do respect him,” Cain said.

“He’s a good fighter, but I just believe this is the wrong time for him. I think he's past his best. Not that he's finished because he's still a good fighter but I believe he's past his best and I'm on the rise.

“I'm coming to annihilate all of these fellas. This is serious for me. This means a lot and he's going to have to be on his A-game to not get nailed in this one.”