The word is already out on Sam Eggington

A whirlwind ride as a professional could culminate with his first domestic crown, live on Sky Sports, with relative home advantage,

Ghanian champion Joseph Lamptey will oppose him in his first 12-rounder for the belt, vacated by Birmingham's own Frankie Gavin.

The Barclaycard Arena in the second city will be the battleground, but there's already plenty talking about the emerging 21-year-old.

One includes none other than 'Sugar' Shane Mosley, now retired having previously reigned as the best pound-for-pound in the world.

The American ring great tweeted Eggington to say as much and has issued an open invitation to train at his gym in the United States.

Sparring partners have included Brummie world title challenger Matthew Macklin and current British champion Liam Smith for this one.

Matchroom promoter Barry Hearn and his son Eddie are both big fans of 'Sam the Man,' who has battled his way into their thoughts.

But there's no chance of the adulation going to Eggington's head, even if he goes to the top and earns celebrity status befitting the top boxers.

He's a family man and has been since he was 17. Partner Charlotte and sons Layton, 3, and Kai, 1, are all that motivates him outside of the ring.

He said: "Boxing is a full-time job for me now. I train hard and do what I'm told - simple as that. The rewards will come with succeeding.

"I may be young but I have got a partner and two kids, so I don't spend a lot of my time celebrating. I put the money in the bank and live normally.

"The better I do, the more it pays, you see Frankie getting a shot at Kell Brook's world title and I would do that in a heartbreak, even now!

"If the boxing really takes off, I will have a bigger house and a nicer car, that's about it. I go home to my family when it's all said and done."

Eggington believes he will reap the benefits of his top-class training but is prepared to go the distance, against a rival chosen for durability.

He squared up to Lamptey during yesterday's weigh-in at the Pavilions Shopping Centre and wants to find out if he's a nut that can be cracked.

He said: "It's been the same drill, really, only this is the best sparring I've ever had. I've been in there with Macklin and gone up to Smith.

"Smith is really tough and strong, while Macklin is so experienced and you can tell the level he's boxed at. It's good preparation for me.

"I know Shane Mosley was here for meetings with Barry Hearn about something, he tweeted me and we have kept in touch from there.

"He's said I can go up to his gym and do some training sometime - and it's in Los Angeles! I'm looking into it, probably late summer time.

"I know nothing about Lamptey, at all, I expect he's going to be hard as nails but quite basic. I need to open him up and let my hands go.

"If it goes 12 rounds, fine, that's what I've trained for and I am not worried about it, but we will see just how durable he is."

Victory would see Eggington land a domestic crown in his 17th pro bout having won Midlands, British Masters and WBC International honours.

He boxed on television in just his fourth paid contest and became the youngest-ever Prizefighter at age 19, following up with a semi-final run when the tournament resumed last year.

He gamely went out on points to Dale Evans the first time aroun and was nudged out on a tight split decision to eventual winner Johnny Coyle when he returned.

But it was a eighth round smashing of former British and Commonwealth champion Denton Vassell in a blistering brawl last November that got him signed up to Matchroom.

Then-WBC international boss Shayne Singleton soon cast aspirations his way and was flattened in five two months ago, leading him up to tonight.

Eggington said: "I should have been at this level for a while, Frankie had the belts but he's done me a favour by vacating the Commonwealth.

"I shouldn't be held back because of my age, I want the opportunities I have earned and this is the first big one that has come along for me.

"I boxed on television early but I wasn't ready for it, I did well but I felt like threw money down the drain. It made me work harder in the gym.

"That led to the experience of being a Midlands champion, which helped me when it came around again and I felt hard done to against Coyle.

"Had that gone my way, I think Paddy Gallagher will tell you himself he didn't have much left for the final. I could have ended up with £34,000.

"We waited a few months before the Vassell fight came up and that's what put me on the map. I got signed after that and I haven't looked back.

"I knew what Singleton was about - if you fight dummies you can go unbeaten for as long as you want. It was a pleasure to shut him up."

Tickets are still on sale priced at £40, £60 and £100 from www.barclaycardarena.co.uk. VIP passes costing £150 have been made exclusively available at www.matchroomboxing.com.