Pegg: bank on Sam’s grit and experience

Not long now…Eggington and Pigford will be a thriller

THE countdown to the season’s most explosive encounter has begun.

On May 27, Sam Eggington, the toughest of today’s pros, again rolls the dice, again prepares to go to the well.

Stourbridge’s former British and European welter champ and IBO world light-middleweight titleholder faces thunderous punching Joe Pigford at Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium. Pigford, from Southampton, hits with shuddering force, has won 20 on the spin and 19 of those victims have failed to hear the final bell.

This is not a 10 rounder for the faint-hearted. This is war.

Pigford brings the power, Eggington, with 41 bouts to his name, brings the experience – and it’s experience mostly spent in top class. He also brings a reputation for displaying courage above and beyond the call of duty – and it’s that incredible heart that has earned him back-to-back British fight of the year honours.

Sam’s manager Jon Pegg said: “With Sam at this stage, every fight is a gamble. On his day, he’s shown he can beat world level guys and, if he has an off night, he can lose to domestic level guys.

“He’s in a good place, his weight is in a good place. At 29, he’s in his physical prime. I think his toughness and experience will see him through. If Sam had faced the 20 opponents Pigford has faced, he’d probably have 19 stoppages as well.”

Pegg and the Eastside team are well aware of the threat Pigford poses.

“He can obviously punch,” Jon admitted, “and the first three or four rounds are obviously going to be risky. But Sam has beaten guys who have knocked out world class guys.

“OK, Liam Smith stopped Sam on a cut, but he did better than Anthony Fowler and Chris Eubank Jnr did. They were dropped and put away by Smith.

“Sam and Pigford have been pros for the same amount of time (both made their debuts in 2012). Pigford had his first 10 rounder in his last fight, Sam was fighting 10 rounders in his first year.

“Sam has to be careful, we know that, but Pigford’s best win wouldn’t get in Sam’s top 10 best wins. At the age of 20, Sam was beating guys who were better than anyone on Pigford’s record.”