Sam Eggington aims to continue his boxing fairytale

Now it could take him to the kind of places even he barely dares to dream of.

Eggington takes on Ceferino Rodriguez for the Spaniard’s EBU European crown at Birmingham’s Barclaycard Arena on Saturday knowing victory would - in the words of promoter Eddie Hearn - put him “within touching distance” of a world title shot.

“Crazy” is how the Stourbridge welterweight describes the five years which have followed his decision to turn professional at the age of just 18. Never shy of admitting his core motivation of building a better life for his partner Charlotte and their two young children, it was a career choice which has so far delivered.

“When I turned over (to pro) I was on the dole. I had nothing,” says Eggington. “We had a flat above a shop we were renting and the rent was getting paid for us. We relied on other people a lot.

“At the start I was going on the road to earn money just so I could pay my own rent. Back then, if I had a little extra, I might go out and treat myself to a new pair of trainers. Now, we are in our own house. Life has changed.”

Life might have changed, yet Eggington’s willingness to accept any fight which comes his way has not. It is an approach which has seen him make a rapid rise from the small hall to some of the biggest shows in the country and make two successful defences of the British title.

Defeat to Bradley Skeete last March, in his third defence, appeared a significant setback. Yet former Warley ABC ace Eggington followed it up with a shock win over Birmingham’s Frankie Gavin before stopping two-time world champion Paulie Malignaggi in front of 17,000 at London’s O2 Arena in March.

It was the biggest win of his career and set-up tomorrow’s showdown with Rodriguez. For Eggington, wiser than your average 23-year-old, it is just another fight.

“Whether you are in a four-rounder in a local show or a 12-rounder on a TV show, the win is the main thing,” he says.

“Before the Malignaggi fight I was at the O2 taking pictures, walking round. I was not really taking it in.

“Everyone was telling me how big it was. It wasn’t till after the fight when I got home and was looking through the phone thinking ‘wow, that place was unbelievable’. How did I not see it when I was there?”.

He continued: “I don’t get nervous to fight. I get nervous to lose. I am never scared of my opponent but you always have to have those nerves.

“I didn’t have nerves with Skeete. I was telling (trainer) Jon Pegg I felt fine. I went in the ring and it went t*** up.

“You always have those fight nerves but I’m never scared. I don’t get fazed. It’s pointless. It’s like worrying whether the sun is going to come up tomorrow. Why wreck your day worrying about it? You can’t ever fear the inevitable.”

Rodriguez arrives with just one defeat on his 25-fight record and has sparred with IBF world champion Kell Brook during his preparation for the fight.

Yet Pegg, who has been with Eggington every step of the way in the pro ranks, believes the Las Palmas-native could well be the latest to be caught out by his man’s speed and power.

“As a fighter we took what Sam had, which was a fierce will to win, a cast-iron jaw and a good thing in both hands and we have refined it,” said Pegg, who trains Eggington at his Eastside Boxing Gym in Birmingham.

“We didn’t want to change him because what Sam is has made him successful. All we have done is add a bit of smarts.

“As a person, from the age of 18, he was very mature. He has gone about things the right way. When things haven’t gone his way he hasn’t cried, he has just got on with things.

“Outside the ring he might look one-dimensional. That is why so many want to fight him.

“Once they get in there, they find out it is not easy as it looks. Sam has a lot more to his game than you see outside the ropes.”

Pegg admits talk of a world title is “surreal” but also testament to Eggington’s dedication and hard work, one aspect to his character which doesn’t look like changing, whatever the future might hold.

“I think I will give anyone a good fight at European level and will win this title,” added Eggington. “I still need to learn a few things before I am a world class fighter but if a world champion called me up today and asked me for a fight, I am going to take it.

“I have never said no to a fight and up until now, things have worked out pretty well.”