COLNE boxer Shayne Singleton believes victory over young prospect Sam Eggington in Hull on Saturday night will make his career.
Shayne ‘The Pain’ is preparing for the opportunity of a lifetime as he fights 21-year-old Eggington with Singleton’s WBC international silver welterweight title on the line.
Eggington is signed with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing, but Singleton believes he can upset the odds in a fight being screened live on Sky Sports, and secure himself a golden future with boxing’s go-to man Hearn.
“He’s ranked fourth in Britain behind Amir Khan, Kell Brook and Frankie Gavin, and they’re all on to world title fights now, so he’s the next in line,” said 25-year-old Singleton.
“This is not just the biggest fight of my career and the toughest fight of my career, it’s going to make my career.
“If I beat Eggington I’m away, there’s no reason why Eddie Hearn shouldn’t then sign me, all my fights will be put on Sky Sports, he’s the man to produce the big name fights.
“The world is my oyster if I get through Eggington, which I’m more than comfortable of doing.
“It’s a life changing opportunity for me, I’ve given all I can in training, I’ve prepared 110 per cent for it and I don’t see why I won’t come out victorious.”
This is the fight Singleton has been waiting for, and he admits it is nice to finally be getting into the ring for the big fight he has craved in his career so far.
“I’ve been wanting a big fight for a while now,” he said. “We’ve had a few let downs and things haven’t gone our way when we’ve wanted fights, people avoiding me and not accepting fights.
“I’d prefer to fight Eggington than anybody else in the rankings, with Frankie Gavin on to bigger and better things. Eggington is the best at the domestic level in Britain.”
Singleton is unbeaten in his 20 professional bouts, while Eggington has been beaten twice in his 15 outings in the paid ranks.
But the Stourbridge man’s victory over Denton Vassell last September marked him out as one to watch.
Vassell was beaten by Viktor Plotnykov at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast on Saturday night though, and Singleton believes the form lines don’t do Eggington any favours.
“That’s where they’re getting Sam Eggington as being this big star from,” he said.
“Denton Vassell was a good fighter but he’s past it now. He’s had two fights since Eggington and I’ve seen clips of both of them and he’s not the fighter he used to be.”
Singleton has been in camp for the fight for the past eight weeks and he is convinced he has formulated a game plan that will see him hold on to his title in Hull.
“He’s got a style that will suit me I think,” he said.
“I’ve never been in the ring with him, I can only go off what I’ve seen, but his style will suit my style and I think I can work my stuff on him.
“We’ve got a game plan, me and Karl Ince have studied a game plan for eight weeks since we found out about the fight.”
Eggington is already being lined up for a shot at the Commonwealth title in Birmingham on May 9, but Singleton hopes to secure that date for himself.
“There is talk already of him fighting for the Commonwealth title in May,” said Singleton.
“That’s already made for him, but he’s got to fight me first.
“If I go in and beat him, which I’m going to do, then it should be me that is fighting for the Commonwealth title next.
“I think they’re doing wrong by saying they’ve got this fight for him when he’s got my fight me first.
“They are looking through me. I’ve seen some interviews he’s done and they’re thinking I’m the same fighter I was a couple of years ago when I boxed Curtis Woodhouse, but I’m a total different fighter now.
“They’re going to have a big shock on the night.”
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