BELFAST, Northern Ireland — Sunny Edwards can't help but produce a wry smile.

After indulging in more jovial topics, potential exhibition bouts and light-hearted reflections with other media outlets, he shifts on stage and senses what's ahead here before the first question is asked.

"It's a good fight, we know what Caoimhin's strengths are — good boxer with footwork — Ishmael can't let him get into a comfortable rhythm, has to make him work hard from the off. If he does, I think he breaks him down and breaks his heart," he tells The Ring.

The former long-reigning IBF flyweight world champion has embraced his role as manager, analyst, cornerman and more besides since retiring after Galal Yafai dismantled him in six startling rounds during their Birmingham headliner in November.

He found the funny side when Ishmael Davis, who he manages, and unbeaten Caoimhin Agyarko were jawing at one another for 10 minutes during Thursday's final press conference.

Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn gladly watched them generate more buzz before they finally settlle their long-running score in the chief support bout to Lewis Crocker-Paddy Donovan 2, streamed worldwide on DAZN on Saturday night.

A raucous Windsor Park atmosphere complete with 19,000 spectators is expected and while Agyarko (17-0, 7 KOs) assumes most of the risk, armed with a No. 5 world ranking in the WBA's latest update, Edwards isn't convinced by the Belfast resident.

"He's suffering an identity crisis right now," adds the former world champion. "This is a good world ranking-level fight but he needs to understand he was forced into this. Contractually, by taking the Ryan Kelly fight, he was locked in — they told him it would be Davis — yet still tried to get out.

"Changing the rounds, asking for more money, 'I'm not fighting if I'm not walking second, first on the poster' ... didn't get any of that.

"You're the B-side and you got dropped by Matchroom because you wouldn't take any fights, that's the reality. He turned down Troy [Williamson], tried going to Sky who didn't want him, came back with his tail between his legs.

"He beat an injured Troy from round six on and as soon as he was caught with a half-clean shot, boxed like he was scared. Came back with open arms, but Matchroom told him to jog on."

Agyarko overcame a testing start to overwhelm Ryan Kelly on the Dalton Smith-Mathieu Germain undercard in mid-April, stepping in on short notice for an injured Davis.

Davis, who immersed himself in a different environment with a two-month long stateside trip to spar several world-level contemporaries and experience various gyms abroad, will have felt the enforced break was a blessing in disguise.

A week shy of a full year removed from his 12-round majority-decision loss to Josh Kelly, the Serhii Bohachuk step-up that beckoned in Riyadh was humbling.

Agyarko clarified his side of the story as far as a proposed promotional extension was concerned last month, though Edwards doubled down on how this matchup is more than just a clash of two different personalities.

Edwards says: "Ishmael is where he is today because when the phone rings, he says, 'Let's go.' He's a proper fighter, not just doing it for money. When I presented the Serhii Bohachuk fight to him, he replied, 'Who am I to be turning down these sort of opportunities?' Just thinking about it is giving me goosebumps.

"He wasn't willing to miss out on any of these fights — hard fights only — now he's going into someone else's backyard again and doesn't care."

Agyarko is listed at 5-foot-11, two inches taller, and is viewed as the naturally bigger man, having long campaigned a weight above the Leeds man. Edwards was pleasantly surprised by what he saw when they faced off for the first time.

"I'm surprised at how much bigger Davis looks," added Edwards. "Agyarko looks slim and drawn, not even as tall. It's mad. I thought there would be certain advantages but there's not when you see them stood next to each other. The plan is, Ishmael will make it real hard work for him in there, obviously in the division world-level opportunities can come [quickly], but he's still mandatory for the British title.

"We haven't been able to back Sam Gilley in a corner to fight yet, there's been an excuse every time. I've got a holiday booked, or I can't do these dates, he wants to win the British win outright, have a proper career and stay busy, we've seen he'll fight anyone.

"He jumped in on 10 days' notice against one of the division's hardest punchers in Bohachuk, won the first round and got caught with a sledgehammer afterwards. He was taking heavy shots every round, didn't budge or go anywhere and we saved him in the corner for another day. That day is Saturday."