Leon didn’t fight like a challenger, which is what most champs who stay as hungry as their opponents do. Belal gave everything he had from the first bell to the last. By contrast, Edwards looked like he didn’t want to be there most of the fight, coming alive in bursts. Just not the spirit that you see in longstanding, dominant champions.
So hard to assess the fight when only one of them seemed to realise it’s now or never.
Can’t knock Belal, however. He did everything you want a challenger to do.