By Matt Bozeat

BEATEN in three of his first four fights, Kirk Stevens is now targeting the British title – and is inspired by the real-life ‘Rocky’ in his stable.

Sam Eggington turned pro in his teens, intending to be a journeyman and ended up winning British, Commonwealth, European and IBO world honours.

Eggington has the 44th fight of his all-action career in Cannock on Thursday night (NOVEMBER 28) and Eastside stablemate Stevens is in action three days later.

The former undefeated Midlands Area super-lightweight champion is in the home corner for a change at Birmingham’s Holiday Inn and at 34 years old, he says the best days of his career are in front of him.

“I have four or five years left,” said the Telford southpaw, “and I can see myself getting to British title level. 

“I only had five amateurs before turning pro when most fighters have 40 – so this will only be my 16th fight ever.

“I’m learning on the job and I’ve learned I can give anyone a good fight.      

“I’ve trained alongside Sam, we’ve done some rounds and I said to (manager) Jon (Pegg): ‘I want to get to his level.’

“He’s a proper fighter and that’s what I’m about. I’m not flashy. I love a good tear up.”

The similarities don’t end there.

Eggington got his big break after he went into ‘Prizefighter’ at short notice early in his pro career and Stevens took his chance to became a modern-day ‘Cinderella Man’ last February.

He went into a similar eight-man tournament at just 48 hours notice and handed three prospects their first loss to take the top prize.

“That changed my mindset,” said father of two Stevens, from Donnington. 

“I don’t drink or go out partying anymore. I train twice a day, six days a week.   

“I turned pro because I like to train and fight and wanted to get paid for it instead of going out at the weekend, having a fight and getting locked up.

“I went on the road and at times I have gone in there to give the guy the rounds. I saw those jobs as tough spars that I got paid for.”

Stevens ended up a champion after upsetting Jamie Stewart in Stoke last September and then beat him again in the rematch.

Both fights were in Stewart’s hometown, and for the first time in his professional career, Stevens was fighting out of the home corner on Sunday afternoon.

He said: “I’ve sold a few tickets and it will feel good to have people cheering for me, but I would rather be the underdog, the away fighter. That’s what motivates me. I will tell myself I’m the underdog before the fight because that prepares me to go out there and do better.”