Fresh from the bright lights of the unification clash between Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg, the boxing calendar moves on to Birmingham and features a great trade fight between rising prospect Sam Eggington and established pro Bradley Skeete. The two will face off for the British and Commonwealth Welterweight titles.
Eggington has developed from a young guy who joined the boxing game late and did so purely for financial gain. He planned to become a journeyman in order to support a young family, and has become a rising prospect, backed by the Matchroom Boxing and Sky Sports. Faced by the older, slightly more experienced Skeete, who will himself want to steal the show and to thrust himself on to potential world honours. An evenly matched fight, no doubt.
Eggington comes in to the fight off the back of a string of good victories against domestic level opposition. The stand out win was against Denton Vassell when Eggington was just 20 years old and ground out a mature victory over the 10 round distance for the first time in his career, eventually stopping a jaded Vassell in the 8th round.
The only defeats on Eggington’s record have come in the three round shootout fights in the Prizefighter series and he has certainly learnt from these defeats and moved forward more. Eggington’s style is exciting and agrresive, and it is these attributes that saw him eventually be signed by Eddie Hearn and Matchroom. Barry Hearn is a particular fan of his throwback style.
Bradley Skeete is very much a live opposition in this fight, no mistake about it. His record boasts only one defeat against the former world title challenger Frankie Gavin, slipping to a unanimous points defeat on that occasion. Skeete’s record like Eggington’s does not boast big names or notable wins, and this is a good fight for both at this stage of their careers. Skeete’s career has been guided by Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions and a win here will no doubt see him pushing Warren for some big fights and paydays before his career is over. Skeete has shown himself to be in great shape for this fight and the punters at the Birmingham show should look forward to a closely fought contest between two tall welterweights with styles that contrast completely.
The next step for the winner is clear, a fight with the recently returned from injury Frankie Gavin. Gavin failed when challenging against Kell Brook at his first shot at a world title. Gavin found Brook too big and accurate and was stopped. However, Gavin has held British and Commonwealth straps at welterweight and himself needs a good win or two to propel himself towards a second world title tilt. Should Eggington suffer defeat on Saturday, he has time to come back and a long career ahead of him, possibly world level may be beyond him however. For Skeete, it would leave him in the last chance saloon.
– Jonathon Fell / @Jonathon_fell
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