Sam Eggington vs. Bilel Jkitou - 10 September 2021

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release

Birmingham warrior Sam Eggington is ready to go to war with undefeated French ace Bilel Jkitou when they collide on Friday 10th September at the Coventry Skydome Arena, exclusively live in the UK and Ireland on free-to-air Channel 5.

The Savage puts his WBC Silver Middleweight title on the line for the first time and must repel the hard-hitting danger man to protect his position as World title contender as he closes in fast on a World title shot.

Eggington’s defence against Jkitou headlines an action packed card Hennessy All-Stars featuring some of the stars from the promoter’s stable including big-hitting Brixton star Isaac Chamberlain; Irish KO king Stevie McKenna; Birmingham’s Former British Light-Heavyweight Champion Shakan Pitters; Coventry’s dynamite-punching middleweight sensation River Wilson-Bent, Birmingham welterweight ace Kaisee Benjamin; Birmingham’s flash and brash Love Island and super-middleweight star Idris Virgo; red-hot Irish super-welterweight talent Brett McGinty; Brighton heavyweight destroyer Tommy Welch and the silky skilled Sevenoaks prospect Michael Hennessy Jr.

Tickets are available to purchase now from only £40* from the Coventry Skydome Arena website https://iceaccount.co.uk/championship-boxing

Eggington, the Former British, Commonwealth, European and International Champion, was last in action in May and returns to the Skydome Arena where he won the title with a punch perfect performance against the rugged Mexican former World Champion Carlos Molina to win widely on the scorecards by unanimous decision.

The 27-year-old has the advantage in big-fight experience from his 37 fights and 15 Championship contests to overcome the aggressive and highly confident Jkitou who is intent on pulling off a major shock in his first fight in England.

From Nanterre, Hauts-de-Seine, Jkitou is the former WBC Mediterranean Middleweight Champion and has amassed an unbeaten 15-fight record with 6 knockouts since turning professional in February 2015.

The 29-year-old is in fine recent form with back-to-back KO’s in his last three fights. Last time out in March this year he destroyed Gyorgy Mizsei in the second round in his hometown; prior to that in February last year he smashed Felice Moncelli in the opening round and Ernesto Olvera was despatched in eight rounds in October 2019.

Jkitou is well known in his homeland as he was previously a semi-professional player with Red Star, the oldest league football club in Paris, where he played as a striker.

All-action Eggington knows he has to be at the top of his game to see off Jkitou’s challenge and is prepared to dig deep and go beyond as he promises to retain his belt in style.

“I know that Jkitou will be coming into the ring as a hungry challenger looking to knock me out and take my crown, but there’s no way he’s going to do that,” Said Eggington.

“He’ll be going all out to beat me and make a name for himself but knowing that he wants to destroy my plans makes me train harder and makes me even more determined to smash him up. There’s no way he’s beating me or taking my belt,”

“I’ve worked too long and hard in my career and I’m at the point of challenging for a World title so I cannot let all that blood, sweat and tears be for nothing,”

“He’d better be prepared for a war in there on the night because I’m putting everything on the line.”

Fiercely determined Jkitou believes he can knockout Eggington and will return to France a hero.

He said, “I’m very confident, I feel good I’m ready all year round, it’s a big challenge to fight Sam with a good belt so I had to accept the fight,”

“He is a very good boxer with qualities and flaws, I think he has never boxed a boxer as smart as me. The tactics will make the difference in this fight.

“I think I would beat him by knockout or by stoppage in the 8th or 9th round. If he underestimates me that’s fine for me, it’s the truth in the ring,”

“If I beat Eggington I’ll come back as a hero in France and with a good position on my standings, it’s one of the most important fights of my career.”

Hennessy, who recently signed a long-term promotional agreement with Eggington, is excited by the Eggington-Jkitou showdown and is predicting fireworks on the night.

He said, “This is set to be a real fiery encounter between Eggington and Jkitou. Styles make fights and with Eggington’s solid and relentless punching, never taking a step back and iron resilience matched against Jkitou’s aggressive, attacking style and hard-hitting, plus the volatile English-French rivalry thrown in, I believe it will produce some real fireworks on the night.”

Hennessy also added that he has two further Championship Boxing dates confirmed on Saturday 13 November at the Coventry Skydome Arena and Saturday 11 December (venue TBC) – both live and free on Channel 5 – with the full show line-up to be announced shortly.

He continued, “I’m delighted to officially confirm our big fight dates for the last quarter of 2021 and we’re at the Coventry Skydome Arena on Saturday 13 November and the venue for final date on Saturday 11 December will be announced shortly. Our Champions and talented prospects will be out in action again as we close the year and get ready for a massive 2022.”

*Tickets subject to booking fee.

[polecateddy]

Eggington be stopped early?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Eggington be stopped early?

What you mean?

[THEBUTCH]

Great news that there's already 2 further dates in the pipeline Boxers need this sort of activity

If Eggington feels he can rumble at 11st 6lbs then that's his call, but I'm not convinced how far he go at middleweight, but if this is where opportunities are then it makes some sense.

I'm guessing Eggington will be banking on his far greater experience in this fight.

[jameswilson]

Best comment of the video.

‘I’ve seen a better lineup at a bus stop.’

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release | River Wilson-Bent: I'm Just a Young Local Lad Trying To Make Something of Himself

Given its population, it’s perhaps something of mystery, that Coventry - England’s eleventh largest city - has struggled to deliver it’s share of boxing champions, all-action Exhall middleweight ace River Wilson-Bent promises to promptly put paid to that.

‘I want to put this brilliant city on the boxing map,’ says the 27 year old Midland Area Champion who is undefeated in nine, with five brutal stoppages.

‘We’ve twice won the City of Culture, we’ve a brilliant football club…! Coventry City (FC) are getting right behind me. I always go to the matches when my training schedule permits.’

Thus far, it has been a tale of the nearly men for the West Midlands’ second city. Welterweight Bobby Arthur sat briefly sat on the British throne in 1972 but his victory was courtesy of a disqualification over future world champion John H. Stracey who savagely avenged him in an immediate rematch. Amateur sensation Errol Christie, an eight-time national junior champion, promised so much in the 80s only for a suspect chin to be exposed in the more brutal paid fold. In the late 90s, colourful Richie ‘The Tiger’ Evatt was leading up until the 11th round of an IBO featherweight tilt at New York’s Junior Jones before running out of petrol.

The noughties proved a purple patch for Cov boxing. Super-feather Dean ‘Pitbull’ Pithie and light-heavy Neil Simpson briefly conquered the Commonwealth only to capitulate in British title challenges. Another amateur ace Steve Bendall contested British, Commonwealth and European middleweight fights but never quite crossed the line and featherweight Roy Rutherford won a British crown in 2003 only to succumb in his maiden defence. Two years after, middleweight Andy Halder muscled his way to a British title shot but was wiped out in a round by Plymouth southpaw Scott Dann.

‘It’s my ambition to bring big boxing titles to Cov, deliver something none of the others managed. A Lonsdale Belt outright would be a mad achievement.’ states huge ticket seller River.

The Nuneaton-born 6ft 2in roofer concedes that, growing up, he was protected from the city’s rougher edges.

‘Cov’s a lively old town but Dad pushed us into sports. I was always active in after school clubs,’ claims the youngest of three.

‘Though there’s no boxing in the family, my brother was a superstar junior rugby player, on all the elite squads and I was always in his shadow. People told me I wasn’t aggressive enough… !

‘At my school, loads of kids around my age boxed but my mum wasn’t going to allow anyone to punch her little baby in the face so I started off without her knowing in Year 10. From the off, I was absolutely glued to the training. My progress was all about dedication and hard work. I really didn’t have much natural ability. For a start I wasn’t very fit. I became a human punchbag.

‘At school, I was a cheeky lad, liked to push the boundaries, test the water. I got pushed around a bit but six months after starting training, I got into a fight, beat the other kid up and, seriously, everything changed that day. Everyone started being nice to me.’

Though he never advanced beyond the regional titles in a 57 bout amateur innings, the River really started to flow once he began his pro career against Hyde’s Mike Castell in November 2018.

‘I actually wanted a few rounds but it was ‘Here I am! I stormed to the ring as fast as I could, wanted to prove I was serious. Three hundred of my fans bought tickets to see me for just 90 seconds,’ he recalls.

Coached by Brendon Norman, managed by Jon Pegg and promoted by Mick Hennessy, the pride of Cov has certainly sparkled since being unleashed at 10 round Area title level last December.

‘I’ve always been able to use my nerves to rise to the occasion against better opposition,’ says the Midland man who trounced Burntwood’s 6-0 Troy Coleman with a raking right to claim the crown (TKO3), then retained by routing another unbeaten man, Derby’s George Farrell in seven rounds six months later.

‘I’d heard good things about Troy; he was strong gave people lots of problems but I’d always rather box better kids who open up.

‘Against George Farrell, I sold 220 tickets. I was told he was a baaaad guy, a big strong lad, a banger but I work way too hard to worry about others. He was a fit durable kid who shook off some seriously heavy shots. But it was lovely to hear the crowd back.’

With his huge army of Sky Blues boys bringing the noise to every appearance, big things are predicted for the Exhall Express.

‘I’m mandatory for the English and hopefully will fight Tyler Denny in November or December,’ says Wilson-Bent who recently completed a marathon in just three hours, 20 minutes.

‘I’ve developed a winning style that adapts to whatever’s in front of me. I can box long, short or mid-range, I can dance and move or get stuck in. I usually keep them on the end of my long levers but when I smell blood, I go for the jugular.’

He will certainly be the best supported man on the bill when he stars on promoter Hennessy’s Channel 5 screened spectacular at The Skydome in his home city on Friday 10th September when he takes on Bosnian Hardman Sladjan Janjanin in what is expected to be a fiery showdown.

‘Get down to the Skydome!’ concludes River.

‘I’m fighting a 10 rounder against a tough Bosnian Sladjan Janjanin who’s got 29 wins, and 23 stoppages. It’s a good opponent, hopefully for an International title.

‘I’m just a young local lad trying to make something of himself. My support is ridiculous and their noise is crazy. They’ll bring the atmosphere, I’ll deliver the entertainment. Guaranteed!’

[ILikeBeer]

Might give this one a watch.

[jameswilson]

1 week away and when I checked boxrec last night, still only the eggington fight actually made.

[ILikeBeer]

1 week away and when I checked boxrec last night, still only the eggington fight actually made.

So, not like a stacked undercard then?

[handsofstone]

To say Jkitou has a padded unbeaten record would be an understatement, in saying that if he has an awkward tricky style then Eggington could struggle as he always does they type of opponents, Eggington has shown against Theophane and Molina that he isn't completely spent so if Jkitou isn't up to task then Eggington should have too much still

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release | Bilel Jkitou Very Confident That He Will Take Down Sam Eggington

Former striker Bilel Jkitou has offered to play up front for Coventry City FC this Saturday after he has beaten WBC Silver Middleweight Champion Sam Eggington the night before.

And the unbeaten French hitman has the backing of his superstar friend the Real Madrid and France striker Karim Benzema.

Jkitou challenges Eggington for his crown at the Coventry Skydome Arena this Friday night, but the former Red Star forward is happy to swap his gloves for boots again and turn out at home for the Sky Blues, who are 7th in the Championship, against Middlesborough.

Before Jkitou switched to professional boxing he played as a striker for Red Star, the oldest league football club in Paris, and the sharpshooter scored 15 times in one season.

He has equaled his football prowess in the squared circle with an unbeaten 15-fight record and 6 knockouts and has captured the WBC Mediterranean Middleweight title as he heads into the biggest fight of his career against the Birmingham ‘Savage’ Eggington.

The 29-year-old has been in top form with back-to-back KO’s in his last three fights. In his last fight in March he destroyed Gyorgy Mizsei inside two rounds; prior to that in February last year he smashed Felice Moncelli in the opening round and Ernesto Olvera was dispatched in eight rounds in October 2019.

Jkitou said, “It was a real pleasure for me to play and grow at Red Star, a club so prestigious in France for its level and its history. I scored about 15 goals in one season at Red Star. When I beat Eggington and take his title and while I’m still in the city before I go home I’d be happy to help out Coventry City against Middlesbrough

“Karim wanted to come to see the fight but with the Covid and the fact that he plays often complicates matters. Karim and I met on social networks he is passionate about boxing, he liked what I did and he wrote to me and since then our friendship is very healthy, we give advice to each other, we encourage each other. I also had to go see him in Madrid but the Covid has complicated all these trips, but it will be done very soon. Regarding the fight against Sam he encouraged me to win,"

He has also played alongside some other big French stars including former Spurs and Marseille winger Georges-Kévin Nkoudou.

He added, “I played with Nkoudou who played at Marseille and for Spurs in England, who now plays at Besiktas. Yacine Bammou who played in Nantes and with the national team of Morocco. I played with Abdoulaye Diaby who played in Lille, Bruges, Besiktas. Mario Lemina, he is also a friend, we come from the same neighborhood.”

Jkitou says he has transferred all the qualities of a striker such as accuracy, speed, strength and confidence to being a boxer and will use them to defeat against Eggington. He finished, "Yes exactly I am a striker in football but also in boxing and you will see that on September 10 in Coventry.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

[margaret thatcher]

billy got some support there

[Ruthless-RKO]

Right guys. The card starts at 5:15pm on Sun Sport (www.thesun.com)

10pm from Ch5.

[maninthemiddle]

With little sporting competition this show could easily pass 1 million peak viewers. Good show on free to air.

[Ruthless-RKO]

With little sporting competition this show could easily pass 1 million peak viewers. Good show on free to air.

The fight with Molina did less than 900k views.

[jonp]

With little sporting competition this show could easily pass 1 million peak viewers. Good show on free to air.

The fight with Molina did less than 900k views.

Which was still sams biggest audience to date by about at least three fold. Terrestrial Tv is mental in how it opens so many doors for boxers with people who they wouldnt usualy get..Putting it did less than 900k views makes it sound like less than usualy watched a fight. Other subscription channels get between 60k and 250 for a really good show.

[Ruthless-RKO]

With little sporting competition this show could easily pass 1 million peak viewers. Good show on free to air.

The fight with Molina did less than 900k views.

Which was still sams biggest audience to date by about at least three fold. Terrestrial Tv is mental in how it opens so many doors for boxers with people who they wouldnt usualy get..Putting it did less than 900k views makes it sound like less than usualy watched a fight. Other subscription channels get between 60k and 250 for a really good show.

I think cus it's on free tv, It should be doing consistently more than 1 million.

Hughie used to do more than 1 million.

But you're right. Egg has always been on Sky.. Mostly undercard fights. Those Sky cards peak at the main event and like you said, usually do around 200k views.

So more eyes is definitely a good thing.

[jonp]

The fight with Molina did less than 900k views.

Which was still sams biggest audience to date by about at least three fold. Terrestrial Tv is mental in how it opens so many doors for boxers with people who they wouldnt usualy get..Putting it did less than 900k views makes it sound like less than usualy watched a fight. Other subscription channels get between 60k and 250 for a really good show.

I think cus it's on free tv, It should be doing consistently more than 1 million.

Hughie used to do more than 1 million.

But you're right. Egg has always been on Sky.. Mostly undercard fights. Those Sky cards peak at the main event and like you said, usually do around 200k views.

So more eyes is definitely a good thing.

To be fair Sam had quite a few top of the bills
.Cheeseman ,Fiordigglio,Smith Rodriguez,Gavin,Skeete,Evans,
Malignaggi(chief support) as opposed to about 8 or 9 fights on undercards.So it wasnt really mostly undercard fights.it was about 50 50 which isnt too bad.
Sam topped the bill 8 times on sky and probably hit the same number of viewers in two fights topping the bill on channel 5.Its strange when you think of it that way isnt it?

[maverick23]

The fight with Molina did less than 900k views.

Which was still sams biggest audience to date by about at least three fold. Terrestrial Tv is mental in how it opens so many doors for boxers with people who they wouldnt usualy get..Putting it did less than 900k views makes it sound like less than usualy watched a fight. Other subscription channels get between 60k and 250 for a really good show.

I think cus it's on free tv, It should be doing consistently more than 1 million.

Hughie used to do more than 1 million.

But you're right. Egg has always been on Sky.. Mostly undercard fights. Those Sky cards peak at the main event and like you said, usually do around 200k views.

So more eyes is definitely a good thing.

The way people watch TV has evolved even since Hughie fought on ch5. Far more people watch on demand or stream on tablets which wouldn’t form part of the BARB estimates.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Which was still sams biggest audience to date by about at least three fold. Terrestrial Tv is mental in how it opens so many doors for boxers with people who they wouldnt usualy get..Putting it did less than 900k views makes it sound like less than usualy watched a fight. Other subscription channels get between 60k and 250 for a really good show.

I think cus it's on free tv, It should be doing consistently more than 1 million.

Hughie used to do more than 1 million.

But you're right. Egg has always been on Sky.. Mostly undercard fights. Those Sky cards peak at the main event and like you said, usually do around 200k views.

So more eyes is definitely a good thing.

The way people watch TV has evolved even since Hughie fought on ch5. Far more people watch on demand or stream on tablets which wouldn’t form part of the BARB estimates.

you're not wrong..

[Ruthless-RKO]

Live from the Skydome in Coventry, UK.
Hennessy Sports in association with William Hill, Infinitum, Numan and Everlast presents: Hennesst All-Stars

Live on Sun Sport (website): 5:15pm
Live on Channel 5: 10pm

Fight Card

WBC Silver Middleweight Championship
Sam Eggington vs. Bilel Jkitou

6 Round Welterweight Contest
Kaisee Benjamin vs. Jarkko Putkonen

10pm on Ch5
6 Round Super-Lightweight Contest
Stephen McKenna vs. Moussa Gary

---

8pm
6 Round Middleweight Contest
Aaron McKenna vs.Ivica Gogosevic

10 Round Super-Lightweight Contest
River Wilson-Bent vs. Gabor Gorbics

8 Round Light-Heavyweight Contest
Shakan Pitters vs. Farouk Daku

6 Round Light-Heavyweight Contest
Isaac Chamberlain vs. Ben Thomas

6 Round Super-Welterweight Contest
Michael Hennessy Jr. vs. Ben Thomas

4 Round Heavyweight Contest
Tommy Welch vs. Alvaro Terrero

4 Round Middleweight Contest
Brett McGinty vs. Teodor Nikolov

6 Round Middleweight Contest
Idris Virgo vs. TBA

[Oiky]

Good to see ch5 putting some boxing on

[Ruthless-RKO]

Good to see ch5 putting some boxing on

Friday night too.

[Oiky]

Good to see ch5 putting some boxing on

Friday night too.

Yea forgot about this one to be honest,nice bit of grub an the boxing on a friday is always good