Sam looks set for a title fight in Canada

Sam Eggington…rumours swirl over bout in Toronto

SAM Eggington, British boxing’s ultimate warrior, is set to spread some Maple Leaf mayhem with a title fight lined-up in Canada.

I understand negotiations are at an advanced stage for the Stourbridge Savage to face Sukhdeep King Bhatti in Toronto on July 6. The WBO international light-middleweight belt will possibly be on the line.

Nothing signed and sealed, but the bout looks more than a possibility.

Unbeaten Bhatti, from India, but based in Canada, should be warned: Sam has taken many fighter “0’s” during a marauding 43 bout career that has brought honours at British, European and world level.

Bhatti, aged 31, is an unknown quantity, but can evidently bang. He’s won all 18 pro contest, eight by stoppage, collected an IBF international belt, but has never faced an opponent in Eggington’s class.

In a way, his record mirrors that of Southampton’s Joe Pigford who had scored a string of sensational KOs before being destroyed by Eggington.

“San has shown he will do a number on people at Pigford’s level,” said manager Jon Pegg. “But at world level it’s a hard fight. And, at this stage in his career, I don’t want Sam to have hard fights.”

Sam, himself, had admitted his incredible career is nearing the end. Some believed he’d decide to bow out after being outpointed by Abass Baraou for the European title in March.

After that fight he told me: “I’ve always said when you start thinking about when to get out it’s time to get out.

“I’m getting tarred with a brush. People have a perception that I’m here to make the numbers up and I think that’s getting through to the judges. I can’t shake that off.

“You sit back and think, ‘I can’t keep going through this s***’.  People think I do this because I can’t do anything else, but I can do other things. I do this because I love it.”

The love affair is back on – and Canadian fans should prepare themselves for some serious Black Country beef.