SAM EGGINGTON has warned Bilel Jkitou that his Abel Xavier bleached barnet won’t cut it tonight.
Birmingham’s 27-year-old takes on the Frenchman with the tinted hair in Coventry, in a bid to edge his way closer to a WBC world title shot.
The Brit banger does not know much about the 15-0 visitor apart from he has a shocking resemblance to the former Everton, Liverpool and Middlesbrough defender.
“I honestly know very little about him,” the Egg said. “He’s unbeaten, works the body shots, he has got funny hair! That’s it.
“I seldom watch even my own fights back but I’ve good coaches who take care of that part. He’s certainly not fought anyone at the level I’ve operated at.
“The Skydome was a decent venue with just half a crowd in May. At full capacity, it’ll be some atmosphere.
“I need to win well, look comfortable to improve my ranking. Win, lose or draw, I never disappoint.”
Eggington turned down a middleweight bout with Chris Eubank Jr due to the money on offer to face Jkitou instead.
The heavy-handed Brummie is loved by fans for his all-action bravery, starring in wars with Bradley Skeete, Frankie Gavin, Paulie Malignaggi and Liam Smith.
But the veteran is now too wise to take unwinnable fights above his weight class, just for a payday, when he is edging toward a title shot.
“It’s a double-edged sword,” Eggington said. “The fans love that I’ll face anyone but now I have to get clever.
“I’ve never had a pathway before. My best chance of success would still probably be down at 154lbs because the biggest middleweights are seriously big lads.
“The Eubank fight was offered to me but there just wasn’t enough money there.
“They offered us a purse, we asked for a bit more and they didn’t even come back, so they must have had someone else lined up who was cheaper.
“He’s a big middleweight, super-middle sometimes, and I just wanted the money to be worth the fight, but they didn’t come back to us.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
