CRAIG Evans will finally get the chance he has been craving after trainer Tony Borg revealed the European champion is set to fight in an eliminator for the WBO world lightweight title next month.

Blackwood ace Evans faces unbeaten Russian Roman Andreev in the latter’s homeland on Saturday, February 3.

Should Evans triumph then he would fight the winner of the contest between Raymundo Beltran and Paulus Moses.

Mexican Beltran and Namibia’s Moses are set to battle it out for the vacant crown in Reno, Nevada on February 16.

Britain’s Terry Flanagan was the WBO’s number one before he relinquished the title to move up in weight.

Ironically, it was only recently that Borg had expressed his disappointment in what he saw as a lack of opportunities for Evans over the last 12 months or so.

Evans, 28, became WBO European lightweight champion in November 2016 and seemed on course to be rewarded with some big paydays.

However, he fought just once in 2017, a title defence against Stephen Ormond in Belfast, and the continental strap looked like being an albatross around the Welshman’s neck.

But Evans has been given a perfect post-Christmas present by promoter Frank Warren and will now knuckle down in the gym for a clash which is only 31 days away.

Borg, who coaches Evans at St Joseph’s in Newport, is delighted with the news.

“This is massive for Craig,” he said. “If he wins this he will fight for the world title, that’s what you get into boxing for.

“It’s going to be hard in Russia and to make absolutely sure of winning we’ll have to look to finish it inside the distance, but Craig has got the skill and power to do that.

“Craig is over the moon to get this chance – he doesn’t turn anything down.

“If you offered him a shot at Vasyl Lomachenko (WBO world super-featherweight champion) he would take it.

“Craig doesn’t care who he fights, he doesn’t get nervous in the changing room or ask questions about his opponent.

“We’ve only got four weeks to prepare for this fight but he will be ready and in good shape.”

As for 31-year-old Andreev, Borg added: “His record is 20-0 with 14 KOs and he was a very good amateur.

“I’ve had a good look at him and he is very strong.

“He comes forward all the time but Craig likes someone who goes to him.”

The venue of the fight hasn’t been confirmed yet but it could be the Bolshoy Ice Dome, a stadium constructed for the Sochi Winter Olympics four years ago.