Sam’s body attacks demolish McCarthy

Eggington…provided fireworks at sporting club opening

ON a night when the black tie patrons of the Midlands’ newest sporting club dined on beef, Sam Eggington’s opponent on the boxing bill was carved-up and KOd.

Headlining the very first night of promoter Scott Murray’s Excelsior Club, Stourbridge’s Eggington separated James McCarthy from his senses with a short left hook in the fourth.

The Liverpool boxer hit the deck as if shot and referee Pete McCormack rightly dispensed with the formality of a count.

It was a worrying conclusion to the scheduled six rounder. McCormack was out, received oxygen and took what seemed an age to rise to his feet.

Eggington, taking part in his 41 contest, should be praised for foregoing celebrations and waiting, a look of concern on his chipped features, in his corner until McCarthy had recovered.

And he recovered sufficiently to take part in an interview inside the ropes with former world champ Richie Woodhall and TV commentator Steve Bunce.

Patrons at the Excelsior Sporting Club, held at Cannock’s Premier Suite, dined on beef. McCarthy, who now has a record of six losses in nine contest, was, some critics would say, a lamb to the slaughter.

The 31-year-old certainly didn’t see it that way and fought with ambition. That only ensured a painful and brief night against the former British and European welterweight champ, having his first outing since losing the IBO light-middleweight title last October. McCarthy was down twice from body shots before Eggington uncorked the final, concussive hook.

Sam, aged 29, gave notice of what was to follow in the first when a withering right hand thudded against McCarthy’s ribs.

McCarthy (11st 6lbs) was forced back in the second by educated pressure. To his credit, he attempted to quell the growing storm with punches of his own, but it was akin to throwing snowballs at a Chieftain tank.

In the third, Eggington (11st 5lbs) twisted his long body and delivered a paralysing left hook to the floating rib. The pain spread across McCarthy’s face like ink on blotting paper. In agony, he rose at seven and only a delay while the gumshield he had lost was rinsed and re-inserted saved him for another session.

Clearly, the end was nigh.

Another body shot dropped him for seven in the fourth, then Eggington slammed that  left hook against McCarthy’s jaw. The time: one minute, 52 seconds.

Eggington said afterwards: “I was hitting him so hard to the body, I could feel them. Actually, he can punch a bit. I thought I was having a good time in the first – then he caught me one.

“It’s an odd feeling. I think this was the first dinner show of my career. It’s been good, good as any other – and, for where I am at the moment, it was perfect.”

Manager Jon Pegg said: “I didn’t want McCarthy to get up from that second knockdown because I thought he could get hurt.

“Hopefully, it’s a title fight for Sam next in Birmingham in May.” That a reference to the televised Resorts World show.

McCarthy, speaking at a speed that tested my rusty shorthand, said: “The plan was to get the first two rounds out of the way, but he caught me with a couple of good body shots. That’s the hardest I’ve been hit to the body.”

Patrons at the Excelsior sporting club dined on beef. “Savage” Sam Eggington feasted on ribs…his opponent’s ribs.