Fight Camp Week 1- Eggington vs Cheeseman
The long-awaited return of boxing is here. Matchroom Boxing and promoter Eddie Hearn have created Fight Camp which will allow them to host live boxing.
Fight Camp has been built in the back garden of Matchroom Headquarters Essex mansion. Matchroom will host four fight nights in four weeks at Matchroom Headquarters.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has worked hard to put fights back on and will put on four weeks of 50/50 fights that will look to draw the same interest in Matchroom cards before the Coronavirus pandemic halted all sport.
Matchroom have made sure that Fight Camp will go off without a hitch, all the boxers, coaches, journalists and TV presenters being tested and quarantined before being allowed to take any further part in Fight Camp.
The motto of Fight Camp is ‘No Easy Fights’. Week one lives up to that motto as it will be headlined by Ted Cheeseman vs Sam Eggington.
This Super-Welterweight fight is an intriguing one with two young British fighters that need a win in order to progress and get big fights in the division.
Eggington, 26, currently holds the IBF International Super-Welterweight title and is coming off the back of 4 wins out of the last 5. The Birmingham man had to rebuild since his loss to Liam Smith in 2019. Smith outclassed Eggington who’s brawling style left him open to the superior boxing of Liverpool’s former World Champion Smith.
Ted Cheeseman has had mixed fortunes over the last eighteen months. The 24-year-old Londoner has only won two of his last five with two defeats and one draw in his last three. Cheeseman was handily beaten by Sergio Garcia in a European title fight. The bout against Garcia followed a similar pattern to that of Eggington and Smith, Cheeseman kept wading forward but was picked apart by the superior boxer.
Cheeseman has since fallen on some bad luck, his fight with Kieran Conway was scored a draw, a fight which he and his camp believed that he had won handily. He was then on the wrong side of a decision against Scott Fitzgerald, Cheeseman boxed well in the fight and controlled the fight. A loss which resulted in Cheeseman losing his British title.
Cheeseman will look to capture the form that saw him capture the British title. Eggington will pose a test for Cheeseman. This is a tough fight for both and is very much a fight of two boxers with unwavering commitment, with both looking to place pressure on their opponents and looking to back them up.
Cheeseman will look to impose himself on his opponent from Birmingham. “He’s a really good fighter, but I think he’s a massive Welterweight. I think he’s a fragile Light-Middleweight. When push comes to shove and I stand there and start bullying him and dominating him in the middle of the ring, he hasn’t got a Plan B but I have.”
This is truly a 50/50 fight with whoever wins looking for a British title fight. Eggington vs Cheeseman has the potential to be a great fight with the brawling tough nature of both men.
The Rest of the Card:
James Tennyson faces Welshman Gavin Gwynne in a Lightweight bout in the main support act of the evening for the British Lightweight title.
Tennyson is a very exciting fighter that is looking to progress in his career after an impressive six fight win streak. The hard hitting Lightweight from Belfast believes that his power is the key to claiming titles and continuing the win streak.
“My record shows that I’m one of the hardest-hitting Lightweights in the division at the minute. I prepare for 12 hard rounds, but of course I’ll always be looking for that moment where you can just end the fight. My experience and my power will be a big factor in the fight.” Said Tennyson
“This is a massive fight for my career. Gavin is a real tough lad. We’re both two come forward fighters and I believe that our styles are going to gel. It’s going to be a good war and I feel like this is a must-win fight for me. I’ll be ready come fight night.”
The Belfast man hopes that he will be able to fight on the World Title stage once again.
Gwynne is a tough fight and will look to progress in his career as well and work towards a World Title shot.
The card will also see Heavyweights Fabio Wardley and Simon Vallily go head to head.
Dillian Whyte’s protégé Wardley has impressed in the early stages of his professional career. Wardley has managed to combine speed and power to put away his opponents and claim 7 KO’s.
This will not be an easy fight for Wardley, Vallily has vowed to stop his opponent. “10oz gloves and no headguards, believe me it’s a whole different ball game. It’s going to be a big eye-opener for him. I’ve had a look at him, and you can see he’s got a bit of talent. He’s tricky, he’s fresh, he’s going to come and he’s going to be fit.
This is where it starts now and unfortunately for Fabio, this is my coming out party and not his. He’s not going to see the final bell. Sorry Fabio, but you’re going to sleep mate!”, the former Cruiserweight Vallily believes.
The card opens with two good fights. First up is Jordan Gill vs Reece Bellotti. The quick, technical Gill will look to use his boxing craft to offset the power of Bellotti.
Bellotti will need to get on the inside to work the body of Gill and use his power to knock Gill out of his rhythm. Bellotti believes that a win puts him back in the mix for British, European titles.
Finally, the second fight of the night is Dalton Smith vs Nathan Bennett. Smith has impressed in his first outings in the professional arena. He will look to continue his impressive professional career.
