Eggington v Gavin tops three derby fights

Three Birmingham versus the Black Country title battles will be topped by Stourbridge's Sam Eggington duel with Frankie Gavin in October.

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A whirlwind 24 hours saw Matchroom Boxing rip up their bill for the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham and play their trump cards, writes Craig Birch.

Their Sky Sports date on Saturday October 17 will now see new British and Commonwealth welterweight champion Eggington, just 21, defend the belts Gavin relinquished.

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Eggington's WBC International strap will also be on the line in the main event against 'Funtime Frankie,' whose last fight was a world title tilt against IBF boss Kell Brook.

'The Savage' was slated to put his straps up-for-grabs against Rowley Regis' Jason Welborn, a former British title challenger and victim of Gavin.

Gavin asked for Eggington and, facing the prospect of shipping in an international opponent for the top liner for the Brummie's first fight on home turf since his pro debut, promoter Eddie Hearn acquiesced.

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Welborn has not been left in the lurch, though, and will remain in the light middleweight division where he's Midlands champion for, arguably, as big as test.

Three-time world title challenger Matthew Macklin, the former British and European champion, will be in the other corner for what is slated to be the WBC International title.

'Mack the Knife,' now approaching veteran status at 33, will drop to light middle for the first time in over nine years. He's got a warm-up fight in Spain next week, too.

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The derby trio is completed by Halesowen's Lennox Clarke, who gets his shot at the Midlands middleweight title against Craig Cunningham, an Oldbury-based Brummie.

Hearn said: "It's the kind of main event I feel will ignite the area and it's one that people will be talking about. The same goes for when Welborn popped up. He fancies this.

"This was, probably, a card we were going to put on next spring, but we decided not to wait in putting on the best show possible. I'm really pleased with the line-up.

"We came to Birmingham earlier this year to the same venue and attracted 6,000 people, with Anthony Joshua at the top of the bill. We feel this could do 8,000 or 9,000."

Birmingham's Kal Yafai will also go for the vacant British flyweight title, against Commonwealth champion Jason Cunningham. Older brother Gamal is another a part of the supporting cast.

Walsall's Daniel Breeze, unbeaten in six paid outings and a part of the last Matchroom show in Birmingham, appears as do Corry Gibbs and Zach Parker.

Tickets go on sale at midday tomorrow 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.