Sam faces McCarthy at Excelsior opening
Sam Eggington…easing back with a six rounder
BATTLE-scarred Black Country warrior eases back following the loss of his IBO world light-middle title with a six rounder on a sporting club’s debut show.
The Savage faces Liverpool’s James McCarthy on the Thursday, March 30, opening night of The Excelsior Club at Cannock’s Premier Suite.
Securing the services of the former British and European welter champ is quite a scoop for businessman – and former heavyweight – Scott Murray, the man behind the Excelsior.
The stacked card will also feature the debut of Birmingham’s outstanding amateur Niall Farrell and featherweight sensation Nyall Berry.
Eggington is the most exciting fighter out there. His 40 bout record is studded with breath-taking wars and Sam, aged 29, has scooped back-to-back “fight of the year” accolades from the British Boxing Board of Control.
For McCarthy, the contest represents a chance to gatecrash the ratings. He’s won two of eight (one draw), but mixed in good class.
On paper, it looks a fairly undemanding evening’s work for Eggington. He deserves one after losing the IBO belt to Australia’s Dennis Hogan in a Down Under bout last October.
The Stourbridge boxer looked out-of-sorts in losing on points. The usual fire and fury was missing.
I praise Scott Murray for bringing the glitzy, once cigar smoke days of sporting clubs back to the West Midlands.
His venture is backed by some very big names in the boxing world, including former world lightweight champ Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini. The all-action American champ attended the Premier Suite as an after-dinner speaker - one of many fight legends booked by Scott for the venue - and the pair forged a friendship.
Scott – who has gained major sponsors for The Excelsior – said: “Ray has a working relationship with two major US promoters and, through him, we’ll get American boxers on the shows. I’m also talking to Steve Collins’ brother about sending Irish fighters over, so the shows will be real international affairs.
“The plan is to have four shows this year. Then we’ll grow to six, with two taking place in London. We’re already putting together major celebrity appearances for the London events.”
Whisper it, but one of the major celebrities may be heavyweight great Lennox Lewis.
The March 30, black tie launch will be hosted by TV’s Steve Bunce, former world champ Richie Woodhall and Mancini.
Former Cannock promoter Ron Gray – at the forefront of the Midlands sporting club scene during its heyday – has provided advice for the business blueprint.
Scott added: “I felt the time was right to revive sporting clubs. Each week I sit down with Ron and his knowledge and mentoring has proved invaluable.”
The Premier Suite is certainly braced for a very busy time.