Bragging rights and an upset are settled

The two bouts provided the main event and chief support respectively in front of a healthy attendance at the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham, writes Craig Birch.

Saturday night's grudge match with an overweight Gavin had the more needle, after 'Funtime Frankie' battles with the scales beforehand.

Only Stourbridge's Eggington , 23, could win the WBC International welterweight title, regardless of the result. Both vowed their opponent would not see the final bell of the 12-rounder and one didn't.

They headlined a bumper show staged by Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing, with the Sky Sports cameras rolling live. The atmosphere was electric for the top liner.

Birmingham's Gavin, as expected, had bossed the early stages, staying mobile and keeping his hands moving while picking his moments to attack.

The skilful southpaw started to make Eggington miss and kept him off, which his rival predicted pre-fight he wouldn't be able to do more than a couple of rounds.

So it proved in the third when Eggington got through with a straight right hand, dropping Gavin down to the canvas. He answered the count and recovered well.

Gavin enjoyed a decent fourth before Eggington started to trap him on the ropes, putting his hands together to bash away with hooks to the body and uppercuts as Gavin covered up.

Some of his shots were getting through and had a telling effect, with referee Victor Loughlin issuing a standing count in the fifth ruling that only the ropes were keeping Gavin upright.

A loaded left hand had sent him reeling into the ropes but, again, a game Gavin came back fighting. He threw combinations, including a double attack with both hands that clobbered Eggington.

His punches, although flush, were not stopping Eggington in his tracks and, come the eighth, he was back in the ropes by the corner.

This time, Eggington managed to get a big uppercut through the guard, with Gavin slumping to the mat. Loughlin began his count and, seeing the fallen fighter too hurt to continue, called for the finish.

Medical attention was called for and, after a brief period of treatment, Gavin regained his senses and congratulated his nemesis. There was just 18 seconds of the round left.

Eggington wins, at least, a top 15 rating with the WBC along with the belt. Being propelled into a dream match with the organisation's reigning champion, Danny Garcia, doesn't look so unlikely now.

Gavin, 31, faces an uncertain future. After failing to make weight, he was handed a beating more damaging than European champion Leonard Bundu or IBF world titlist Kell Brook could manage.

It came after Cunningham's stunning upset for the WBC International crown at middleweight with the scalp of Ogogo, Olympic bronze medallist and undefeated professional.

Again, it came in the eighth round, where Ogogo was retired by his corner complaining of blurred vision. He was also behind on the cards, though.

Left-hander Cunningham had sent him crashing to the deck in the second, a southpaw blow stinging Ogogo and leaving wide open for the strong right hook that made him sink to the floor.

Cunningham built on the knockdown and remained in charge, hurting Ogogo with another loaded right hand in the third.

His illustrious opponent rallied and took the fourth, with both men taking it in turns to come forward and measure their blows in trade-offs come the fifth.

It was Cunningham who seized the initiative from round six, dropping his hands and peppering Ogogo with the southpaw jab.

Ogogo's resolve was completely shattered by the time his corner acted, one minute and 28 seconds into the eighth. Referee Ian John-Lewis did the honours, after calling a time out.

Halesowen's Lennox Clarke had the inevitable task of following the top of the bill, after the Sky Sports cameras stopped rolling.

His six-rounder with Adam Jones was dropped to four, with Clarke always dangerous after three early TKOs from his last four outings.

His big bombs were just bouncing off the never-stopped Jones, though, which forced him to operate more on the back-foot and burst forward to pick his shots when the situation dictated.

A worthwhile exercise which relied on skill rather than power ended 40-37 on points, losing just a share of a round with referee Kevin Parker.

Four further titles were decided on the night, the first an entertaining tussle between Don Broadhurst and Louis Norman for the English super flyweight crown.

The two had previously clashed for English honours at fly to the tune of a draw but victory was Broadhurst's this time, on a split decision after 10.

Judge Shaun Messer went against him, 96-94, but Loughlin and John-Lewis both ruled in his favour, 96-95 and 96-94 respectively.

Sean Davis claimed the WBC International belt at super bantam in the evening's first televised title fight, outpointing late call-up Paul Economides.

All three judges had him 96-94 ahead at the finish against a bloodied Economides, who was cut by the left eye from a clash of heads in round nine.

British super flyweight champion Kal Yafai also featured in an eight-rounder, as his WBA world title shot against Luis Concepcion was confirmed for December 10 at the Manchester Arena.

Yafai forced the finish with just 12 seconds of round three left, a right hand to the body forcing Johnson Tellez to take a knee where he was waved off by Parker. Tellez protested it was a low blow.

After the main event, Andy Keates successfully defended the Midlands light welterweight title against Jordan Cooke. Referee Messer picked the winner on points, 96-93 after 10.

The last clash of the card, which ran into the early hours of Sunday morning, saw Marcus Ffrench and Robbie Barrett jostle for the English lightweight strap.

It went to Barratt over the distance after 10, with all three judges. Two had him 100-91, the other scoring the contest 98-92.

Further support bouts provided action for the likes of former world title challenger Brian Rose, who shut out Stiliyan Kostov 80-72 on points over eight.

Another over-the-distance victory came the way of Cori Gibbs, who opened proceedings just after 5pm with a 40-36 whitewash of Michael Mooney.

Joe Sherriff used four of the six rounds to remove Tzvetozar Illiev, a solid left hook flattening him with 16 seconds of the round left.

Ryan Kelly defeated Tommy Carter by third round stoppage, while Sam Bowen removed Reynaldo Mora with a left hand in round two of six.