Savage Intentions
Show Preview
Saturday 30th June will see Tommy Owens Promotions in conjunction with Matchroom hold their biggest small hall show at the Holte Suite, Villa Park. The show is called Savage Intentions and will be headlined by the former British, Commonwealth and WBC international welterweight champion Sam Eggington.
Tommy Owens Promotions shows at Villa Park are always great shows, but with Eggington headlining the show and with a cracking undercard this is a show not to be missed by any Birmingham boxing fan. As this show is so highly anticipated the column will give you preview on the boxers fighting on the night.
Main Event
Sam Eggington
It is a great achievement for Tommy Owens Promotions to have got Eggington to headline this show. Eggington (24) is coming back to where he won his first title, the welterweight Midlands area title and will be having his second fight in his new weight division of super-welter/ light middleweight. Eggington will be fighting Gogi Knezevie from Austria in a ten round title fight for the IBO International Continental super welterweight title. Eggington who has won 22 out of 26 fights has had one fight in the super welterweight division and showed he is going to be a danger at the weight with a early Stoppage victory against Szebo. I urge any boxing fan to get a ticket to see Sam fight at Villa park as whatever ticket you have, you will have a great few of a future world champion. It has been reported that Matchroom are looking for Eggington to fight in America in September and make his mark on the world stage.
Eggington Interview
Under-card
Indi Sangha
The first time I saw Sangha (22) was against Paul Holt at Villa Park where he won on points, he was a deserving winning but I have to be honest I was not convinced as I thought the fight was closer than most people had it. The next time I saw the unbeaten fighter he was fighting Louis Fielding in a semi final qualifier for the Midlands area title, he stopped Fielding in the second round and proved he is a special talent. He has a very relaxed flashy style that is very exciting to watch and his hand speed and movement are sharp and precise. He has had a frustrating year so far as the rematch with Paul Holt which would have been for the Midlands area title has been cancelled and at the moment does not look likely to happen. Sangha's last fight was last month against Andy Harris at Villa Park where after Harris had felt Sangha's power and speed held on for grim death to see out a very frustrating night for Sangha who won convincingly, but also got a good learning curve against a very negative opponent. They have been hard pressed to match Sangha up but he will be fighting against Michael Ramabeletsa from Preston in a 8 rounder. I have no doubt that Sangha will be victorious and fingers crossed his next fight will be for the Midlands area title.
Ishmael Ellis
Unbeaten fighter Ishmael Ellis (26) is currently 7-0 and fights out of the D&A school of excellence and is trained by Anthony Hull. Ellis who came thought the unlicensed ranks of boxing claimed his first title at the start of the year beating Dean Evens on points for the lightweight British challenge belt over 8 rounds. Ellis has a very good work rate and is improving every time I see him, he will be looking to make a statement a this packed out show and with team D&A behind him I’m sure he will be victorious.
Idris Virgo
Virgo (24) is another prodigy coming out of D&A school of excellence who is also trained by Anthony Hull. The super middleweight made his debut in March against Iain Jackson knocking him down and then winning on points. Virgo is another product of the unlicensed scene and is looking to follow in his stable mates Ellis’s foot steps. Virgo is a very talented fighter who is showing a lot of promise and the column will be watching how he progress's in the pro ranks.
Karl Wiggins
Wiggins or Karly G as he is know trains out of the Eastside gym Birmingham and from what I have seen is a very talented boxer. Wiggins at 38 is no spring chicken but the way he moves around the ring is like a man much younger. He has great movement and shot selection and with only two defeats in 13 fights I can only see a victory for this former welterweight Midlands area champion.
Carl Dickens
Dickens (34) will be looking for a win after a very disappointing defeat the last time he was in the ring at Villa park at the start of this year. I was at the show and saw Dickens start brightly but then seem to switch off and under preform as I have seen him boxes so much better than he did that night. Dickens is a avid Villa fan and I’m sure the Middleweight and his Eastside team have worked on what went wrong last time and I am sure the “wallop” will get a victory.
Anthony Manning
Manning has had a frustrating start to his boxing career after he has won one lose one and drew one. I have saw Manning on all three occasions and can say his record does not reflect his ability. I remember in his first fight that he moved well around the ring and was looking very sharp and tidy, but unfortunately he got caught with a good shot that put him down. He got back up but had not recovered enough, and the ref was forced to stop the fight. This was a tough learning curve for Manning but he was back in the ring several months later and claimed a good first victory against Paul Cummings. Manning also fought at the start of the year getting a draw against an opponent that had came to win. Like I said at the start Manning is a lot better than his record says and I’m sure he will be back to winning ways down Villa Park on the 30th June.
Lee Gunter
Gunter (21) is a exciting welterweight and will be looking to keep up his unbeaten record and win his 4th professional fight. Gunter has impressed every time I have watched him boxes. The Cannock lad will be looking to shine with the Matchroom team watching on.
Lenny Evans
I saw Evans (22) fight a few months ago at Villa park and was very impressed, the welterweight from Shrewsbury impressed with his movement, shot selection and speed and will be looking to make it 3-0 at Villa Park on the 30th June.
Nathan Mcfarlane
Mcfarlane (27) made his professional debut a month ago at Villa park on the “By The Sword” Show. I have to say he looks a very exciting prospect and really impressed me on his debut with his fast hands, movement and the way he picked his shots. On that night he didn’t just impress me as it was from that performance that he earned a place on such a big show. Mcfarlane looks a great prospect and I am sure I will be writing a lot about the Telford born boxer.
Final Thoughts
I can not etherize how big this show is for Birmingham and Midlands boxing with the wealth of boxing talent on display. From the world ranked Sam Eggington to some of the hottest prospects in Midlands boxer, this show has it all. What ever ticket you can get your hands on for this show you are guaranteed a great view of Sam Eggington going for a title, this will probably be the last time to see him fight at close quarters as Matchroom intend to introduce him to America and the world stage. Like I have said earlier this is a must see show for any Birmingham boxing fan.