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Dave Egan excited by 'massive show' on January 18



Cannock’s Dave Egan is excited at the prospect of boxing on the undercard of Frankie Gavin’s first British Welterweight title defence later this month.

Egan will meet an as yet unnamed opponent on the night Gavin takes on Jason Welborn at Walsall Town Hall (Friday, 18th January). The show, which will also be broadcast live on BoxNation, is a sell-out and the 29 year-old former Chasetown FC star cannot wait to make his television debut in front of a capacity crowd.


“It’s going to be some night,” he told www.uko-boxing.com. “It’s easily the biggest show I’ve been involved in. It’s a massive show.


“Walsall is probably the most local town to me being from Cannock, so I just can’t wait. To be on this undercard in only my fourth professional fight is brilliant.”


Egan made his name from lacing up football boots rather than gloves. He played 238 games and captained Evostick League outfit, Chasetown FC during two separate spells in a nine year period. 


However, a back injury, coupled with a desire to properly test himself in the ring, saw him switch sports for good last year.


“At 17 I had about 18 months as an amateur boxer,” he added. “I loved it but then my football career took off and I was getting paid good money for that, so my boxing career went by the wayside. 


“I continued to box once in a while, I won the ABA Novice Midlands title in 2011 and had 16 amateur contests in total, but that was over a ten-year period. 


“Then I picked up a back injury, which hampered my football career, and that brought me back to boxing. 


“I tried to give up football at the end of last season but, after a few phone calls from the Chasetown manager (Craig Harris), I came back for a few games earlier this season.
“I realised though that, at 29, I want to have a proper crack at boxing and have hung up my football boots for good now to concentrate on my boxing. 


“You can’t do both; mainly because of the injuries. If you could guarantee you wouldn’t get injured playing football, it would be good fitness training for the boxing, but you can’t guarantee that.”


The light welterweight has made an impressive start to his professional career, recording three straight victories. However he’s conscious that, as something of a late starter in the paid ranks, he should be looking for quality over quantity when it comes to his future opponents.


“I need to test myself against good opposition,” he continued. “I’d rather lose a fight than just be in against boxers who I am able to beat up every round. I want to test myself.


“I’m taking each fight as it comes and hope to be in a competitive fight on the Gavin versus Welborn undercard. 


“The plan is to keep learning and progressing. It would be great to fight for an Area title or Masters title this year and then push on from there.”


The fight takes place on promoter Frank Warren's first show of 2013 - in association with Midlands promoter Errol Johnson – at Walsall Town Hall on Friday, 18th January. The show is a sell-out but it is also live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/Virgin Ch. 546). Subscribe at www.boxnation.com.


Walsall Town Hall Box Office - 0845 111 2900 – have started a waiting list should more tickets become available.


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