‘The Savage’ Sam Eggington showed why he is never in a dull fight with a battling performance against German Abass Baraou for the vacant Super Welterweight EBU European title fight. The thirty-year-old from Smethwick Birmingham took on Baraou (29) in a twelve-three-minute round at the Telford International Centre (01.03.24). This was the headline show and was broadcast live on channel five and was also an eliminator for a crack at the WBA Super Welterweight World title. Eggington and Baraou both weighed in the same at ten stone thirteen with Giuseppe Quartarone from Italy refereeing.
Both fighters let their hands go from the first bell with lots of good inside boxing by both fighters going head and body well with Baraou just edging the round. Both fighters continued to land shots to the head and body in the second as the fight went back and fought, Baraou got some good right hands off but Eggington edged this round for me. The third round was a toe-to-toe battle as both fighters went head and body letting bursts of shots go to the head and body. Baraou was getting the better of the exchanges with some nice left hooks then landed a crisp right hand knocking Eggington’s gum shield out, the ref put his gum shield back in Eggington continued to press but it was Baraou round. Eggington was more composed in the fourth and boxed well using his jab more landing some nice shots to edge the round.
Post box fifth round with Baraou pinning Eggington in the corner landing big shots with Eggington returning fire, another back-and-forth round but Baraou just edged it. The pace slowed in the sixth with Eggington boxing well using his jab as he took the centre of the ring, Baraou had some joy landing hood shots even round. Both fighters got good shots off in the seventh with both boxers having joy, neither fighter would take a step back with Baraou just edging it. The eighth was another hard-fought round as both fighters landed good combinations with some great fighters with Baraou winning the round with the cleaner shots.
Eggington started the ninth round well landing nice jabs and combinations, Baraou then landed a succession of right hands opening a cut above Eggington’s left eye. Eggington continued to battle but Baraou sensed blood and continued to land shots until the end of the round. Eggington fought well in the tenth on the back foot using his jab well and landed some nice shots, Baraou finished the round strong but Eggington won the round. Eggington had joy at the start of the eleventh but Baraou pinned him in the corner again and landed a barrage of hooks, Eggington managed to fight his way out with both fighters trading shots with Baraou winning the round. Eggington used his jab well in the final round but it was Baraou who was landing the eye-catching shots, Eggington did not stop throwing shots as both fighters went toe too toe I could not split them.
Judge Jean-Robert Lane scored the fight 117 to 111 Baraou, Mika Lindgen scored it 117 to 112 Baraou, Freddy Refin scoring it 114 to 114 draw. I had it 117 to 113 Baraou.
Baraou won on a Majority Decision.
Dexter’s Thoughts
First I’d like to say what a cracking fight but I never expected anything else of a Sam Eggington fight. It may only just be the start of the year but this contest could already be a fight could already be a fight of the year contender. I have never seen Eggington in a full fight and thus was no exception as both fighters went toe to toe. Baraou has to take a lot of credit for making it such a great fight as he met Eggington head-on when all the experts thought he would use the big ring to move around. Eggington has had a great career and at thirty years old his career is not done yet, ‘The Savage’ has had his setbacks in the past and has always come back stronger and I have no doubt that he will get another crack at a big title soon. I look forward to seeing Eggington back in the ring very soon.