Sam Eggington is open to travelling to New York for a future European welterweight title fight with Paulie Malignaggi.
The Birmingham bruiser, who stopped local rival Frankie Gavin last time out in a fight-of-the-year contender, is the mandatory challenger for the European strap which is currently held by Spain’s Ceferino Rodriguez.
‘The Savage’ is hopeful of getting a shot at Rodriguez sooner rather than later and the 23-year-old has confirmed that, if victorious, he would gladly defend his belt against Italian-American Malignaggi and would willingly travel to New York for the bout.
Speaking exclusively to Sky Sports, the 23-year-old said: “The Malignaggi fight would be great for me, I’m all over that, but it is likely for later in the year.
“My situation right now is that I am mandatory for the European title, [Ceferino] Rodriguez is the champion and the plan is to get that fight.
“It’s looking like the European shot might be a bit later than anticipated because he has time for a voluntary defence. We tried to get it on the Haye-Bellew bill in March, but that date may be a bit soon for it.
“I haven’t stopped training since the Gavin fight to be honest. I had two weeks off and have been ticking over since then, even over Christmas and the New Year so I’m ready.”
Malignaggi has already told Sky Sports of his plans to bring a European title to his hometown of New York and Eggington would have no problem with taking the fight stateside.
“He wants to fight for the belt in New York and I’m all over that. Whether he wins the European title or I do, I’m happy to go over there.
“It’s a good move for me in general, he’s a big name and if I beat him people will start recognising me - it’s a high profile fight.
“It is looking likely that my next outing will be a warm-up fight on either the February Hull bill or the Haye-Bellew bill.
“After that it will be the European title fight, I’ve heard there is a Birmingham show in May so it could not land any better than to have a European title fight in my home city - I’ll be over the moon with that.
“Then, if you could pencil in to go to New York after that I would be very happy, but this is boxing, you never know what will happen.”