Sam Eggington controls British title fight

The two domestic rivals clashed live on Sky Sports on the big Matchroom Boxing bill at the Manchester Arena last night, writes Craig Birch.

Needle between the two intensified at Friday's weigh in, where Foot stuck his head in Eggington's face. He wouldn't come out on top when they clashed again.

Foot was pulled out at the end of the eighth round with a gaping wound by his right eye, caused by an accidental head clash.

When the ring doctor ordered the contest couldn't continue, the bout had to go to the cards. All three judges went with Eggington and by some distance.

He said: "I'm buzzing, it was meant to be my hardest opponent yet and I made it look easy. I thought I controlled the fight.

"The belts I have won on the road have been great, but it's all been in the run up to the British title. It means so much to me."

Foot's intimidation tactics were still in place at the off, when he smacked his gloves against Eggington's forearms as the two touched up.

He flew out of the blocks, too, tagging Eggington with a big right hand in the first round which only succeeded to wake him up.

Eggington bossed the second and kept him at range, although Foot fought back in round three as he lunged in with attacks.

That ploy was soon worked out by Eggington, who tagged him with right hands as he waded forward, setting up the left hook to the body.

Tempers flared at the end of the fifth as Eggington, this time, butted heads with Foot as they retreated to their corners.

Then Foot came under fire in the sixth when he was trapped in the ropes with Eggington throwing hooks hell for leather, although he managed to duck down and escape.

There was no getting away from the venom of an evil left hook body from Eggington in the seventh which left him hanging on for dear life, referee Steve Gray deducting a point for holding.

Combination punches were flying in and landing at will in the eighth, where the blood flow got the attentions of the ringside doctor.

Despite Foot's protests, he was waved off. Knowing he was behind, he conceded defeat. The judges were almost in unison.

Howard Foster had it 80-71, a landslide taking into account the point off. Phil Edwards said 80-72, probably for a drawn first, while Terry O'Connor almost certainly gave Foot the opener, 79-72.

Eggington said: "It wasn't an early stoppage, but I felt like almost every round was mine. I knew he'd come out swinging, trying to knock me out with that big right hand.

"To be honest, he didn't hit as hard as people told me he would. He caught me in the first round, but it didn't shock or faze me. I just had to wake up.

"He got stung by a body shot and that got the ball rolling."