EGGINGTON BOOKS FIRST DEFENSE OF EURO TITLE

Press Release:   Sam Eggington (21-3) will defend his European welterweight title against France’s Mohamed Mimoune (18-2)  on the undercard of the lightweight blockbuster between Anthony Crolla and Ricky Burns at England’s Manchester Arena on October 7th, live on Sky Sports. Eggington landed the title with a tenth-round KO of Cerefino Rodriguez in May.  Prior to that, Eggington ended the career of former two-division champ Paul Malignaggi. Mimoune is on a run of four straight quality wins.

Eggington went in the Rodriguez bout on the back of two eighth-round stoppage wins against Malignaggi and Frankie Gavin.

Frenchman Mimoune is unbeaten in over three years and Eggington expects a challenging night against the 29 year-old southpaw – but believes another show-stopping KO can land him a huge fight. “It’s good to take care of the mandatory and I know he’s going to be well up for it,” said Eggington. “I’ve not watched him myself but I’m told he’s an awkward southpaw so I am certainly not looking past him.

“I want to take on all-comers and I want a huge fight with another big name. Paulie was a big name but because of the stage of his career that’s not being looked at as a great win. Eddie Hearn mentioned Lamont Peterson and that would be amazing. I have to get this one out of the way and then I’m ready for a huge fight. I was mandatory for the European title after beating Paulie and I wasn’t going to throw that away, I’m proud to have won the belt and I am happy to defend it – but after that I really want to push on.”

Eggington is joined on the undercard by the first defense of Robbie Barrett’s British lightweight title against Lewis Ritson and the continued rise in the paid ranks of Team GB Rio Olympian’s Joshua Buatsi and Josh Kelly.