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Welborn: Eggington must pressure Gavin

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Jason Welborn today told Sam Eggington the only way he can get the better of Frankie Gavin is through pure pressure when they clash next month.

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They from a quartet which will contest chief support and main event title fights at the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham on October 17,

writes Craig Birch.

Matchroom's Sky Sports card will first see Rowley Regis' Welborn face tree-time world title contender and Brummie Matthew Macklin for the WBC International light middleweight title.

Then Stourbridge's Eggington will defend the British and Commonwealth welterweight titles Gavin relinquished and now wants to regain, to get his career back on track.

'Funtime Frankie,' from Birmingham, stepped up to take on IBF world champion Kell Brook, who retained his crown with a convincing sixth-round stoppage.

That left Britain's only-ever male world amateur titlist needing to drop down to domestic level before chasing a big fight again with Eggington, just 21, fearlessly accepting the fight.

Fighting champion - Sam Eggington could not have picked a harder first defence of the British title.

Welborn had been the scheduled opponent until just 24 hours before the top of the bill was announced, but made way for Gavin and took the Macklin bout instead.

The 29-year-old challenged Gavin for the British 10st belt in 2013, folding in seven from a left hook to the body, and has become a sparring partner for this one.

And he's urged Eggington - who has been in the training ring with Brook this week - to fly out of the blocks if he wants to keep hold of the straps.

Welborn said: "Sam has got to pressure him, exactly how Kell did. He's got to put it on him and not let him think, so he can't settle and get his shots off.

"As soon as he gets his feet planted and the rounds go on, that's when Frankie will start to believe in himself. He'll be ready for this one.

"There's no point in Sam trying to stand off and box, he needs to get in his face and stay there. That's the only way I can see."

Welborn, then unbeaten at welter, was Gavin's voluntary defence after he had seized the British title from former world champion Junior Witter.

And he found the contest worlds apart from anything he had been used to, with Gavin arguably the slippiest southpaw this country has to offer.

He said: "You can be strong and game but when you get in there with Frankie Gavin, it's a different kettle of fish. His boxing ability is world class.

"It's the way he makes you miss and I think he'll just have too much experience for Sam, if I'm being honest. There's no shame in that, though.

"I was expecting him to do more against Kell Brook, but it shows you can't be perfect all of the time. I reckon this fight will be the boost he needs."

Rough ride - Jason Welborn got short shrift out of Frankie Gavin in their British title fight.

Welborn has known Eggington since the champion was a kid, with both coming through the amateur ranks at John Nash's Warley Boxing Club.

They were close to going from friends to enemies for 12 rounds, but Welborn insists any bad blood between them would have stayed in the ring.

He said: "I like Sam, I boxed with him as an amateur for Warley and, if we went up against each other, it would have been just business.

"I'd have expected a tear up between us, but I did have a game-plan. It could still be in the pipeline, but light middle is my real weight."

Tickets are on priced at £40, £60 and £100 from www.barclaycardarena.co.uk or by calling 0844 338 8000.

VIP passes, costing £200, will be exclusively available at www.matchroomboxing.com or on 01277 359900.

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