Sam got Len Woodhall his British title wish
New British welterweight champion Sam Eggington today revealed how he got to share his glory with the late Len Woodhall before his passing.
The Midlands' freshest boxing star, just 21, was coached by the boxing guru from Telford when he turned pro and had him in his corner for his first paid bout.
Eggington and his trainer Jon Pegg made a visit their first port of call after winning the Lonsdale belt on July 18, turning up at his home just two days later, writes Craig Birch.
Woodhall watched his son Richie claim Commonwealth, European and WBC world crowns and had been involved with over 65 champions, amateur and pro, leading 18 boxers to belts in the paid code.
But he had never helped a fighter to the British title, an ambition fulfilled by Eggington shortly before he passed away, after a long battle with cancer, this week.
Stourbridge's Eggington said: "I'm so glad I went, particularly when we got there and realised his fighters had won every title apart from the British.
"He was unwell but still like his old self, cracking jokes and talking to us about the sport as much as he ever had. He was boxing through and through.
"He was in tears when we got there because he didn't know we were coming as his wife, Anne, had kept it as a surprise. He was over the moon.
"It meant a lot then and even more now, as I got to say goodbye to such a good man like Len properly."
The boxing world has united in tribute to Woodhall, with Eggington knowing first-hand the know-how he brought to the gym, clad in his trademark woolly hat.
His last time in the corner was for Eggington's sole defence of the Midlands title against Dave Ryan in November 2013, while he was also there for his pro bow against Leon Findlay.
Eggington said: "Len did a lot for me when I turned pro and, if I needed any confidence, he was always the person that I went and talked to.
"He was all about the technical side of the game and knowing your opponent, too, which I think helped make Richie so successful.
"He worked my debut, when I went away to take on an unbeaten kid, and his last time in the corner was when I fought Dave Ryan.
"He was always in my ear, telling me 'you can win this' and keeping me going. He was a good coach and it's a massive loss for boxing.
"He was even better for company. If there's was one person you wanted in the car with you when you were travelling to a show, it was him.
"He'd make you laugh all of the way there. I'd forgotten that I was fighting by the time I arrived!"
