Gloves are off for Eggington and Gavin

The increasingly-fierce rivals will contest the WBC International welterweight title in the main event at the Barclaycard Arena on Saturday October 22, writes Craig Birch.

It's a contest that has been a year in the making and was due to take place at the same venue on 17 October 2015. It will, again, be live on Sky Sports.

The first build-up, prior to Gavin's withdrawal with a foot injury, had been relatively sedate but words were exchanged during the first head-to-head at the arena this time.

Stourbridge's Eggington claimed he'd been called 'dim' and 'dumb' by Gavin in an earlier interview and vowed to make him pay for those comments.

Eggington explained: "I don't mind a bit of criticism, it comes with anything. If I was a carpenter, people would be moaning about how I hang doors.

"But when it's personal, I have a problem with that. I had people calling me claiming that Frankie said in an interview that I was dim and dumb.

"I'm in a different mindset now and I'll be looking to knock him out on fight night. They don't call me 'the Savage' for nothing."

Birmingham's Gavin countered with some barbs of his own, with his coach Max McCracken and Eggington's trainer Jon Pegg both predicting KO wins for their fighters.

Gavin said: "What I meant was my opinion that Sam has limited boxing ability, which I've stated on many occasions before.

"I've got superior skills and I think I'll have far too much for him, as I've always believed I would do. I'll be able to hit him at will and make him miss.

"I've got a better stoppage percentage than he has, so that's not bad for someone who he reckons can't punch their way out of a wet paper bag.

"He'll find out what I'm all about on October 22. He can come wailing away all that he likes - he could be the one that ends up getting knocked out."

The two headline Matchroom's show, titled 'High Stakes,' an apt adage considering what's on the line for both contenders.

It will be a long way back towards British title contention for Eggington if he loses while Gavin, who has a Lonsdale belt, can forget about stepping back up from domestic level if he's defeated.

Further details about the under-card were revealed by promoter Eddie Hearn at the Barclaycard Arena, with two more Black Country-based fighters featuring.

Brummie Craig Cunningham lives in Oldbury and is close to securing a fight with London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Anthony Ogogo.

The two-weight Midlands champion and the undefeated Ogogo, who has 11 wins without reply since turning pro, are slated to meet for the WBC International title at middleweight.

Halesowen's Lennox Clarke - who was due to tackle Cunningham for the area middleweight crown on the first Gavin versus Eggington bill - has yet to be matched.

There's suggestions that Clarke and Coventry's Joe Sherriff could contest the vacant Midlands super middleweight crown.

An all-Birmingham title fight will see Gamal Yafai defend his Commonwealth super bantamweight strap against English boss Sean Davis.

Two English titles will also be contested with a rematch for Don Broadhurst and Louis Norman, who drew battling for the flyweight crown. They now chase national honours at super fly.

Midlands lightweight champion Marcus Ffrench could upgrade his standing if he can beat Central area counterpart Robbie Barrett for the division's area honours.

Midlands light welter titlist Andy Keates will also make his first area defence against the highly-rated prospect Jordan Cooke, a match that has been months in the making.

Further support bouts will provide action for former world title challenger Brian Rose, Ryan Fields, Cori Gibbs and others, with Hearn planning final additions as he puts the finishing touches to the line-up.

Tickets are available now priced at £40, £60 and £100 from www.barclaycardarena.co.uk or by calling 0844 338 8000.

VIP passes, costing £150, will be exclusively available at www.matchroomboxing.com or on 01277 359 900.