Sunny Edwards is prepared to be his brother’s keeper.

A masterclass performance was turned in by the Croydon, London native in a twelve-round, unanimous decision win over Philippines’ Jayson Mama. The fight marked the first defense of the IBF flyweight title claimed by Edwards, who inherited Mama (16-1, 9KOs) as a mandatory challenger.

With that obligation now out of the way, the goal for 2022 is at least one unification fight—with WBC flyweight king Julio Cesar Martinez well in his sights.

“I want the Ring Magazine and WBC belt,” Edwards noted after posting his latest win Saturday evening at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai. “That was my mandatory, now I’m in the voluntary stage. Julio Cesar Martinez. I'm coming!"

Edwards (17-0, 4KOs) has long called for a showdown with Mexico City’s Martinez (18-1, 14KOs; 2NC), even before officially entering the title picture. There is already a built-in rivalry, with Martinez having previously faced then-reigning WBC flyweight titlist Charlie Edwards. Their August 2019 bout initially ended with Martinez claiming a third-round knockout, only for the outcome to be immediately changed to a No-Contest after it was correctly acknowledged that the fight-ending blow came while Edwards was on the canvas after a knockdown call.

Martinez went on to claim the vacant WBC belt which he has since defended four times. The latest saw Martinez settle for a third-round No-Contest with McWilliams Arroyo. Both fighters hit the deck in the opening round, with Martinez scoring another knockdown in round two and seemingly well on his way to a knockout finish. Arroyo opted to not come out for round three due to a cut over his eye, which was ruled as the result of an accidental foul.

It has yet to be determined whether Martinez will have to revisit the fight or if his mandatory obligation is satisfied. Edwards is now in the clear to face whomever he desires for his first fight of 2022. His hope is for it to come versus the Eddy Reynoso-trained Martinez.

"I came here to fight Mama, and I did that and prepared hard and trained diligently,” Edwards noted after posting his latest win Saturday evening at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai. “I want to be in the big fights now."

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox