Manning: ‘Abubaker and Eggington - that would be massive!’

Abubaker and manager Manning. Picture: Inga Zulyte

AMIR Abubaker, the barber with battering ram power, craves to share the ring with undisputed king of the crowd-pleasers Sam Eggington.

His manager Anthony Manning made his hopes for the savage showdown public after Abubaker delivered another quick-fire performance on Saturday night.

Defending his Midlands light-middleweight title for the first time, the Coventry KO artist halted unbeaten home favourite Jack Mantell at Alfreton Leisure Centre.

With the southpaw challenger buckling under a blizzard of punches, the fight was stopped in the fourth.

He hadn’t been floored, he had been outgunned.

After nine straight wins, Abubaker is ready for a step-up. And Manning would love to see the 25-year-old tested against Stourbridge’s Eggington, former British, European and world champ and current WBC international silver belt-holder.

“It’s easy to make and it would be massive,” Manning said.

It would also be explosive, a truly incendiary encounter – 31-year-old Sam’s contests always guarantee fireworks.

“Maybe it’s something that would interest (new promoter) Scott Murray,” said Manning. “Seasoned fighter against young fighter and let’s see what happens.

“People know what they’re going to get with a fight like that. I have massive respect for Sam. He does what he does in the ring and doesn’t get the credit for what he’s done, his achievements.”

Eggington’s manager Jon Pegg will doubtless feel Sam has bigger fish to fry – big names, big money on big, televised arena shows. He could be forgiven for believing Abubaker needs to bring something more substantial than an area belt to the table, that the prize is not yet worth the gamble - and every bout is a gamble.

Manning, however, has put it out there.

Against 33-year-old Mantell, unbeaten in nine (two draws) before Saturday, Amir underlined the fact he packs a mighty wallop.

Mantell, from Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, was game and aggressive – until he felt the champ’s power. After that, more caution was shown.

“I think it was a good performance,” Manning said. “It wasn’t Amir’s best performance because there’s much better to come.

“It’s all about learning and this was a good learning fight. Amir can take a lot from it. He was straight back in the gym today (Monday).

“Mantell was game and strong. I thought he felt Amir’s power in the first and retreated, but still had that will to win.

“He was still looking to engage, just with more caution. Amir’s conditioning and self-belief, it’s a lot to overcome.

“What Mantell wanted to do worked in Amir’s favour. Amir’s young, fresh, hungry and intense and that guy was trying to be young, fresh, hungry and intense, too.

“In the end, he was being banged to head and body and it was just too much.”