"Unknown" Sam ready for Prizefighter chance (From Dudley News)

"Unknown" Sam ready for Prizefighter chance

3:19pm Friday 11th January 2013 in Sport

SAM Eggington says his unknown status will him a threat in Prizefighter.

At just 19 years of age, the Stourbridge welterweight is poised to make history at Wolverhampton Civic Hall next Saturday January 19 by becoming the youngest ever competitor in the eight-man tournament, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Eggington was initially listed as a reserve but was called up earlier this week when Birmingham’s Nasser Al Harbi failed to return from honeymoon in time for the promotional photo shoot.

As an amateur the former Warley ABC star won the Clubs for Young People and ABA Novice titles. Though he has only had three fights as a professional, Eggington believes he can be the surprise package in a field which includes experienced campaigners like Mark Thompson and Rob Hunt, along with fellow Stourbridge fighter Steven Pearce.

He said: “I think I have as good a chance as anyone, I’m not really looking at the other guys in there because the more you do the more you think about them.

“The fact I’m not very well know is in my favour.

“There’s no pressure on me at all, the pressure is on the others to beat me as I have the least experience.

“If they don’t beat me they’ll look and bad and they know it.”

Knowing he was listed as a reserve, Eggington spent the festive season in the gym sparring Birmingham’s Dave Egan, who appears on the undercard of next Friday’s British welterweight title showdown between Frankie Gavin and Jason Welborn.

While hoping Prizefighter, in which even first round losers are guaranteed £4,000, will boost both his wallet and his fanbase, Eggington believes it will not ultimately be career-defining.

He said: “The money will definitely come in handy but while winning is the most important thing, it won’t do as much for me as the other lads.

“Even if I win I will still only have had six fights.

“I think one thing it will do is show me the level I’m at now.

“If I win then obviously I’m good enough to step up and if things go less well, I know there is work to do.”