Dave Egan will dazzle with his Civic entrance

The former Chasetown footballer has raised laughs and earned the nick-name 'Handsome Dave' through his lively ring entrances in his last two fights.

Before defeating Paul Samuels at the Institute last September, Egan came out to the strains of 'Mr Boombastic,' Shaggy's No 1 hit from 1995, and won on points.

Then, at Walsall Town Hall in January, it was Barry White's "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby,' which appeared in a sketch on television show Friends.

The 29-year-old duly knocked out Ricky Stock in the first round and feels continuing his winning streak can be attributed to feeling relaxed when coming into the ring.

It all stems from the ring announcer being instructed to call him 'Handsome Dave' in the fight before Samuels, his last fight at the Civic against Danny Dontchev last June.

And Egan said: "I have got something special up my sleeve for this one, this should be the best one yet. You have got to have a bit of fun in the ring!

"I am not one of these fighters who comes in all angry faced and aggressive, staring at my opponent, I prefer to come in relaxed.

"I have been well and truly stitched up with the 'Handsome Dave' thing, though, you can thank my trainer Jon Pegg for that!

"We were in the gym one day and he kept saying to me 'you are too good looking to be a boxer, I will call you 'Handsome Dave' from now on.'

"When we last boxed at the Civic, I saw him go up to the ring announcer and, when he came back, I asked him what he had done.

"He wouldn't stop giggling, I should have known! But, to be fair, a little gimmick like that is not going to hurt."

Billy Smith will be looking to have the last laugh when he's in the other corner at the Civic in eight days time, as he collides with Egan in a four-round light welterweight contest.

'The Gypsy Boy' has just competed in his 150th professional contest and is a rock-hard brawler, who Egan has been told it's ill advised to stand toe-to-toe with.

Skills and boxing on the back-foot is in Egan's game-plan, but he feels strong after dropping down a weight and is hoping to be taken out of his "comfort zone."

He said: "I am not expecting a first-round knockout again, but I was always known as a puncher in the amateur game.

"I know Billy is one tough man and I know that if I go in looking too hard for a knockout, I will end up in a war.

"But I seem to handle boxers better who are strong and come forward, although I am usually the aggressor in the ring.

"I can box on the back foot and use skills, so this will take me out of my comfort zone."

For more information and tickets to the 70th anniversary show, call 07976 283 157 or the Civic box office on 0870 320 7000.