We’re just over a month away from one of the biggest all-British boxing match-ups in a while, as David Haye and Tony Bellew prepare to face off at the O2 arena on March 4.
And a big fight has just been added to the undercard to help us get a little bit more excited – Sam Eggington is set to face Paulie Malignaggi for the WBC International Welterweight title.
BREAKING: @eggington_sam faces @PaulMalignaggi for @WBCBoxing International 147lb strap on 4th March on #HayeBellew undercard! pic.twitter.com/YcIFT7QR0F
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) January 25, 2017
Eggington won the WBC title in his last bout – a win over fellow Brit Frankie Gavin – and will now take on what may be his biggest challenge yet in the 36-year-old veteran Malignaggi.
Image: Mark Robinson / Getty
Malignaggi is a former two-weight world champion and has 36 wins in his 43-fight career so far, taking seven of those by knockout.
The 23-year-old Eggington has enjoyed a bright start to his career, winning 19 of his 22 professional fights, with 11 knockouts.
Image: Leigh Dawney / Getty
“He’s going to be the biggest name on my record, you just have to look at what he’s won and who he has boxed to see that, but I have asked to fight him for a while now and I am confident that I can beat him, and beating him is a big scalp on my record. It puts me in that world bracket which is where I want to be,” Eggington told Sky Sports.
“He’s good at what he does, he is a bit like Frankie [Gavin] really and fighting him has put me in good stead for this one, he’s not the biggest puncher and he’s smaller than Frankie, but he’s won world titles and been in with everyone.
David Haye is currently 1/5 favourite to win the main event, with Evertonian Bellew looking to cause a big upset.
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