A REDDITCH boxing fan is putting his money where his mouth is – by backing one of the sport’s most promising fighters to become a world title contender.
Reynolds Lee is sponsoring WBC International Silver champion Sam Eggington on what he hopes will be a knockout journey to a world title.
Only world champions Kell Brook and Amir Khan and Commonwealth king Frankie Gavin are ranked higher in the UK than 21-year-old Eggington in the welterweight division but Lee, director of Redditch firm UK Paving Ltd, is convinced Eggington will, one day, take a world crown.
The next step comes next month when Eggington, of Stourbridge, fights Ghanaian champion Joseph Lamptey for the vacant Commonwealth title in front of 10,000 fans at Birmingham’s Barclaycard Arena and Lee is rallying an army of support to back the adopted Redditch fighter, who spars regularly with the town’s Carl Dickens.
“We’ve got really big hopes for Sam. I’ve no doubt that one day he will be fighting for a world title,” said Lee.
“He is only 21 and he is already ranked number four in the UK and ranked 29 in the world. It’s a long road but he has got so much ability and he lives his life right.
“I’ve always loved my boxing and I’ve been sponsoring Sam for the past 12 months. He trains full-time now and I help him with his training costs.
“It gives my business a profile too, his clothing has my firm’s logo on it and when he fought on Sky’s Prizefighter and after winning the International title that was on all the pictures.”
Eggington earned his world ranking after becoming the first fighter to defeat Shayne Singleton to win the WBC International belt with a fifth round stoppage in Hull last month.
He has already lifted the Midlands crown and was a semi-finalist in the Matchroom Prizefighter series.
As a result, he has been signed up by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom stable, alongside the likes of Carl Froch, Brook, 2012 Olympic champions James DeGale and Anthony Joshua and Brummie fighter Gavin.
The Resurrection bill at the Barclaycard Arena on May 9 will also have a strong Second City contingent with Matthew Macklin and brothers Kal and Gamal Yafai in action.
Eggington has fought in front of 10,000 at Manchester’s MEN Arena in a previous British title eliminator win, as well as the famous York Hall in Bethnal Green and in Dublin, and Lee wants to see as many Redditch fans as possible giving him their support in Birmingham.
Tickets are available by calling him on 07815 304697.
