Sam Eggington weighing up options after tough call
Stourbridge boxer Sam Eggington admits he is unsure what his future holds after he fell to the narrowest of defeats in a thriller against Ted Cheeseman.
The English super-welterweight pair went toe-to-toe in a magnificent clash in the outside arena at the home of promoter Eddie Hearn in Brentwood on Saturday.
The punch output was high right from the off with Eggington unloading hooks from close range while Bermondsey boxer Cheeseman responded with some clean combinations.
Both fighters were relentless throughout and were hurt by hooks in an epic 12th and final round.
In the end, Cheeseman was awarded the victory on points with scores of 115-114, 116-113, and 116-113.
But there were plenty of people watching who felt the fight should have been declared a draw.
And Eggington admitted he is not happy with how the judges scored the bout.
“If I’m being honest I’m frustrated, disappointed and angry,” the boxer said.
“If I lose a fight, I lose a fight. I try not to be someone who just sits back and makes excuses.
“But I feel hard done by. The judges, the commentators, everyone spoke about what a close fight it was.
“The first five rounds everyone was saying how close it was, but I wasn’t given any of them.
“I probably should have lost three, but I definitely won two.
“And I think I won five or six of the last seven.
“If it was as close as everyone is saying, why are we not splitting those rounds?
“Don’t get me wrong, I know it was a good, hard fight.
“Both of us have got home swollen and bruised.
“But I thought I was the champion pushing the fight.
“He did catch me a few times. He landed two or three big punches that were clean.
“But so did I. I don’t think he did enough to beat me.”
With boxing fans across the country raving about the bout, Eggington said he would consider a re-match. But he said the terms of the fight would have to be right – with the fighter taking no satisfaction from his three children seeing him return home battered and bruised
“I honestly don’t know where I go from here,” he continued.
“People are talking about a re-match.
“But the deal would have to be right for both men.
“And the venue would also have to be right and I’d want a crowd there.
“I’m not in too bad a way.
“There is swelling and bruises but no cuts.
“I could probably be back in the gym in a couple of weeks.
“But I don’t like coming back to the kids all bruised.
“I’ll sit down over the next few days and think about what I want do to next.”
