Penge’s Bradley Skeete outclassed Sam Eggington in “The Savage’s” hometown to become the new British and Commonwealth welterweight champion by unanimous decision, following a superb performance.
Skeete swept the cards by scores of 117-112, 116-113 and 115-113, the last one in particular perhaps a bit too close, but there could be no argument as to who the winner was, with the Birmingham crowd voicing their opinion after the final bell.
“Super” Skeete had silenced them after four rounds, as it became clear that Eggington could not get to grips with him and was already slipping behind. He was ultimately outboxed and, sadly, out of his depth.
The 28-year-old, who is promoted by Frank Warren, never landing one particularly memorable, telling blow, but it was the accumulation and constant fire that was thrown Eggington’s way which the Stourbridge failed to deal with.
Eggington played into Skeete’s hands by following him round and pressing forward, so in the end it was just all too easy for the now, brand new British and Commonwealth Champion.
Skeete game plan was simple but effective. Stick behind the jab and make Eggington miss. On the rare occasions that Eggington did enjoy success and land a shot, he could never follow it up and was quickly on the receiving end of quality work from Skeete.
He may not be a crowd pleaser, but you can’t argue with the results when he is as successful as he was tonight. By the end of the fight, Eggington looked almost afraid to throw a punch, as the 22-year-old was so wary of being countered.
He should be commended for the effort he put in, as he never gave in. Eggington was on the bad end of a boxing lesson, which will probably set him in good stead for the future and get chalked up as valuable experience. After all you learn more from a loss than a win.
The opening rounds were tight, but Skeete did enough to nick the opening two rounds, his jab regularly piercing the Eggington guard and finding their home. The Stourbridge “Savage” did briefly stun Skeete with a stiff right hand in the third, but “Super” recovered well and regrouped from his only real troubling moment of the fight.
From then on it was all Skeete. He began to double up the jab and bring his right hand in to play. Eggington simply couldn’t get near him, as Skeete’s silky skills allowed him to slip the majority of shots fired his way.
Eggington pushed forward more in the later rounds, but it was too little, too late, as Skeete was in cruise control. He may have tired slightly, but Eggington had slowed down more, so the Penge fighter handled any worries with consummate ease.
With the win, Skeete improves to 23-1, 10 inside the distance, whilst Eggington’s great run of form was halted and he slipped 17-3, 9 coming early. The young, former champion is still young enough to come again and is backed by a great team, so expect him back in the ring very soon, after he has been back to the drawing board.
As for Skeete, he will surely be allowed to take advantage of the extra exposure he received tonight and go on to bigger and better fights in 2016. He definitely isn’t to everyone’s taste, but you can’t argue against the fact that he is good. Let’s see how good he can be.
– Matthew Bevan / @MBevs68
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