Sam Eggington breathed new life into his career with a spectacular second round stoppage of Orlando Fiordigiglio in his own Italian backyard. “The Savage” knew he needed a career defining performance at the Tuscany Hall in Florence, and he produced just that.
Eggington was coming off crushing losses to unheralded Hassan Mwakinyo and then to Liam Smith, and was firmly in the last knockings in terms of decent opportunities. He grasped this one with both fists though to rip the IBF International Super Welterweight Title from the waist of his opponent.
Stourbridge man Eggington simply had too much power for Fiordigiglio, and, after a succession of right hands landed in the second round, the Italian was instantly hurt, and a follow up salvo of both lefts and rights left the referee no option but to call a halt to the contest.
It was a brutal and clinical performance from the likeable Midlander, and a win over what was the IBF number five ranked contender has catapulted him back into the reckoning at 154 pounds. Fiordigiglio had only been defeated twice before in European Title challenges, and it was a real statement win by Eggington that will surely now open doors domestically and on the world stage.
It was a good night for British interest all round, with Luther Clay upsetting home favourite, Dario Morello.
Clay dropped Morello twice during their contest, and dominated proceedings to pick up the spurious WBO Global Welterweight Title by scores of 98-90 across the board.
Clay decked Morello in the fifth with a big right hand that sent the Bergamo resident stumbling towards the ropes and down. He beat the count, but the trip to the canvas took the play away from him, and he was floored once more in round seven with a massive Clay right hand high on the Italian’s head forcing him to go down for a second time. He dourly made it to the finish, but his unbeaten record went thanks to an impressive display from the Bracknell based South African.
The other Brit on the card was Jordan Gill, and the Chatteris Featherweight returned from a devastating first career loss back in May with a unanimous six round points win against the tough Spanish based Nicaraguan, Yesner Talavera over six rounds.
