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Sam Eggington top of the bill at awards night

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Stourbridge's Sam Eggington gears up for his British and Commonwealth title defence next week after adding the Best Boxer accolade to his stash.

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The domestic welterweight boss walked off with the top gong at the British Boxing Board of Control's Midlands Area awards night, writes Craig Birch.

'The Savage' will now defend his belts against mandatory challenger Bradley Skeete at the Genting Arena in Birmingham next Saturday night, live on Sky Sports.

The game 22-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough 2015 where he seized the WBC International Silver, Commonwealth and British straps in separate contests and all by stoppage.

First he dropped Shayne Singleton three times on route to a fifth round TKO for WBC honours, before taking out Joseph Lamptey in seven for the Commonwealth crown.

His dream of becoming a British champion came true after beating Glenn Foot on points after eight, the cards scoring the contest after his opponent was cut by an accidental head clash.

His first defence of the domestic titles saw him climb off the canvas to outpoint Dale Evans - stepping in for Frankie Gavin at 10 days notice - and go 12 rounds for the first time.

Eggington beat off competition from Derby's Dave Ryan, who won the Commonwealth light middleweight title, and Leicester's English super middleweight champion Jahmaine Smyle.

Sam Eggington - Best Boxer. Picture by Mark Jones.

Lincoln's Bobby Jenkinson won Best Young Boxer, ahead of his Commonwealth super bantamweight title defence against Gamal Yafai on the Genting bill next week.

Also nominated were Corby's Simon Barclay, signed to promoter Frank Warren, and Nottinghamshire flyweight Jamie Williams.

Luke Paddock's ding dong with nemesis Andy Keates for the Midlands light welterweight title won Best Fight honours.

The two old rivals - with Keates winning three to Paddock's two in amateur bouts between the pair - clashed as professionals for the first time at Walsall Football Club.

An engrossing and keenly-contested 10-round contest saw Bloxwich's Paddock relinquish the crown by a point, with Stoke's Keates proving to be his bogeyman.

It was preferred to the big grudge match between Black Country duo Jason Welborn and Ryan Aston, which Welborn controversially won by two points, for the Midlands light middleweight belt.

Steven Pearce's war with Amir Unsworth, where the Stourbridge slugger won the now-defunct British Masters light middleweight strap when his opponent retired after six, was also nominated.

Best Newcomer went to unbeaten prospect Craig Morris, from Ludlow in Shropshire, ahead of stylish Brummie Cori Gibbs and Leicester's power puncher Lyon Woodstock.

The Best Supporting Boxer category is reserved for the 'road warriors,' the journeymen who travel up and down the country often taking fights at short notice.

It went to Worcestershire super flyweight Brett Fidoe, who won one by TKO in 2015. Puncher Elvis Dube, from Derby, and Newark's 'Fonz' Alexander Anderson were also considered.

There was special mention in the awards for Boxer From the Past and Services to Boxing accolade - a Hall of Fame and Lifetime Achievement honour of sorts respectively.

The former brought back Bloxwich's Andy Peach, who featured in 45 paid bouts at light middleweight in a six-year career from 1992 to 1998.

And Services to Boxing went to Errol Johnson - trainer at Wednesbury Boxing Academy and promoter of Black Country Boxing. Typically, he missed the festivities as he was out coaching.

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