STOURBRIDGE welterweight Sam Eggington became European champion as he knocked out Cerefino Rodriguez in Birmingham.

The Savage overcame his Spanish rival in the 10th round with a thrilling combination to secure the title in front of the Sky Sports cameras at the Barclaycard Arena.

The clash, which was chief support as home-town hero Kal Yafai looked to defend his WBA World Super-Flyweight title against Suguru Muranaka, soon fell into typical fashion due to Eggington's relentless front-foot style.

The Savage was soon looking to walk down his opponent and though he got caught on the way in he was soon finding his range and winning early rounds.

The fight burst to life in round seven as Rodrigues stood and exchanged with Eggington. For a moment the Stour man froze and looked hurt as the Spanish champion landed, but suddenly Eggington powered back with big shots of his own and nearly ended it before the bell.

Anyone who though the Savage would continue the onslaught in round eight will have been disappointed as both men tired.

But still Eggington came forward and finally did end it in the 10th. He lined up Rodrigues on the ropes before an upper cut and cutting left hook had the champion in big trouble. A final right cross knocked Rodriguez out of the ring and out of the fight.

The all-action 23-year-old, who fights out of Birmingham's Eastside gym under trainer Jon Pegg, built on his notable wins over Malignaggi and Frankie Gavin by securing European title glory and will now turn his attention to a defence of his belt later in the year before a possible world title shot.

After the fight, Eggington said: "From what I can gather it was a very messy fight. I don't think I caught any nice, lovely combinations that will be mentioned on TV, but it is what it is.

"I said before the fight there would be no predictions other than the win and that's what's happened.

"He's not the biggest puncher, Malignaggi wasn't and neither was Gavin but they are very clean and crisp punchers, so when they do catch you with a nice shot you do feel it.

"He caught me but I caught him back (in the seventh) and he wobbled a bit. I put it all into that round and had a round off after that.

"But I came back again in the ninth and then ended it in the tenth."

Mentor Barry Hearn, father of promoter Eddie, then spoke afterwards and targeted a title defence in September before calling out Danny Garcia for a world title tilt in Las Vegas.

Though that is still a long way off, the Sam Eggington bandwagon continues to roll and a third successive stoppage will rightly have him dreaming of even bigger things to come.