BP PULSE LIVE, BIRMINGHAM -- Lee Cutler's career-best shot ended bitterly, the ringside doctor deeming Sam Eggington unable to continue after eight rounds and they went to the scorecards, a more experienced Eggington emerging a unanimous decision (87-85, 90-83, 87-85) winner in an anticlimactic chief support bout.

The full seven-fight bill, headlined by Ben Whittaker's light-heavyweight rematch with Liam Cameron, is being televised on Sky Sports in the UK and TrillerTV+ in the US, with the first three prelims shown across Sky Sports Boxing and YouTube.

Sam Eggington (36-9, 20 KOs) promised that he was coming to win and Lee Cutler (15-2, 7 KOs) was left stifled, referee Mark Bates waving off the contest two frames earlier than their ten-round WBC International Silver title fight was scheduled for.

Striding to the ring, Cutler's confidence soared after a career-best win over the previously-unbeaten Stephen McKenna in December but knew this would be a different test. Cliched statement or otherwise, making the first defence of any title is always the hardest and Cutler had a searching look over to his corner a minute into the second stanza after being caught clean with one too many flurries for comfort.

Eggington had home advantage, the volume and experience McKenna lacked, to make this a hellacious night's work. The Josh Pritchard-trained champion hadn't found his rhythm early and instead it was Eggington tagging him often with jabs.

Cutler was ticked off for landing a shot after the referee barked break, both eager to have the final say and connect on the most noteworthy shot when boxing in the pocket. You could hear instructions from Shane McGuigan ringside, unable to sit still and in deep conversation with father Barry. The cameras weren't far behind.

In the third, Cutler's jab had opened up a mark above Eggington's right eye but unperturbed, the older man unleashed uppercuts and cuffing shots giving the champion plenty to consider as the more forceful when jostling on the inside.

Their back-and-forth exchanges continued into the fourth, Cutler investing downstairs while an open-mouthed Eggington returned fire just as fiercely.

Eggington connected on the best shot in the fifth, much to the crowd's delight, though Cutler was still on his toes bouncing and trading shots up against the Smethwick man's chest through six. As a brief timeout was called after excessive dirty boxing, you could see the extent of the damage they'd inflicted on one another - Eggington's right eye closing, Cutler meanwhile sporting a welt on his.

The champion was still being urged to double and triple up his attacks, be busier while staying defensively sound and soon landed a sharp right hand as both were waiting to advance with their attacks in a slower, more methodical seventh. By the round's conclusion, Cutler was countering combinations with scoring single shots.

That continued in the eighth, some whistles being heard as the away fighter had more counterpunching success and they would be replaced by confused noises shortly afterwards when the ringside doctor deemed Eggington unable to continue.

His eye had been worsening with each passing round for at least three and while they exchanged pleasantries, the typically agonising wait persisted. As the Sky Sports viewers' verdict - a 77-77 draw through eight rounds - flashed up on screen, both boxers wondered aloud whether they'd done enough to edge a competitive contest.

The underwhelming end to a close fight - one rogue scorecard aside - means the future remains uncertain as far as a potential rematch is concerned. Cutler could've done more though, and his face at the end told its own story.