Sam: I’m so excited to be fighting Pigford
Eggington listens intently to Jon Pegg on Sunday. Pic: Julie Lockley
SAM Eggington, sweat streaming down his face, paused from relentlessly slamming the heavy bag and muttered: “I’m genuinely excited by this one.”
His chipped features broke into a grin as the Black Country warrior envisaged the forthcoming explosion that is his May 27 battle with Joe Pigford, the paralysing Southampton puncher who has won all 20 pro bouts, 19 by stoppage.
The televised Bournemouth 10 rounder is an X rated collision between an immovable object and irresistible force.
Sam, whose 41 fight career is studded with so many thrillers, is set to go to the well again. It will be violent.
The former European welterweight king and IBO light-middle champ brings the experience and toughness.
Pigford brings the raw power.
Yesterday (Sunday) I was invited to a select media day at Sam’s second home, Eastside gym in the shadow of Birmingham City’s ground.
Stourbridge’s “Savage” looked pin-sharp and primed during 10 rounds of sparring, with Gloucestershire hope Max Mudway sharing the second half of the stint.
Sam Eggington…set for another thriller
I don’t give details of behind-closed-doors sparring. Suffice to say, I would’ve paid to watch that action. They certainly weren’t pitty-pat, technical rounds.
Eggington, aged 29, told me afterwards: “I’m excited, genuinely excited. The kid is unbeaten, with 19 knockouts. I love that s**t.
“Whether those knockouts have come in the ring or in a car park, I really don’t care. I haven’t seen him in action, to be honest – I never do look at tapes.
“It’s probably good they moved this fight from Birmingham to Bournemouth. If you look at it, some of my worst performances came in Birmingham.
“I won my first ‘green’ belt – the WBC international silver welter – against Shayne Singelton in Hull. Fighting away from home brings something out of me.”
Eggington’s record backs up that boast. Possibly his best technical performance, the eighth round British title win over Glenn Foot, took place in Hull. Paul Malignaggi was stopped in London. Dangerous Denton Vassell met his match in Manchester…
In Birmingham, Sam lost his British title to Bradley Skeete and was shockingly stopped in two by unknown African Hassan Mwakinyo.
“I haven’t had to sell tickets,” Eggington added, again hammering the bag. “I just turn-up and do what I do. He’s scored 19 knockouts, but how many of those (opponents) were there for the pay-day. They came to give it a go until they got hurt, maybe.”
History has told us that when Eggington is hurt, the beast within him stirs. He’s made a habit of dragging victory from the jaws of defeat.
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.”
“Pigford 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.”
As I left the crowded gym, Eggington repeated: “I’m excited, genuinely excited. This fight has given me the old buzz.”
I believe him. His sparring partners on Sunday morning certainly believe him.