Amateur Evans on a roll (From South Wales Argus)

Amateur Evans on a roll

10:49am Friday 13th March 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

BLACKWOOD boxer Craig Evans has added another title to his impressive CV, claiming the Welsh Seniors featherweight crown at Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens last week.

The 19-year-old may have left Church Place Amateur Boxing Club in Bargoed to move to Pontypool ABC but there is no end in sight to his winning run.

Evans, pictured, was in impressive form in the preliminaries at the Pill Millennium Centre in Newport, recording first round stoppages against Trimsaran’s Gareth Brewer in the quarter-final and Newtown’s Leighton Blaney in the semi.

In the final, held at the Welsh Institute of Sport, he beat Chris Jones, brother of professional Barrie, taking the decision 26-17 over three bruising rounds at 57kg.

“I was pleased to win but not so pleased with how the fight went,” said Evans.

“It was a good hard scrap but I wasn’t as sharp as usual and I wasn’t as happy as I was after the preliminaries.”

Next up for the talented youngster is the British Championships in Sheffield in May as he looks to add further belts to those he won at the prestigious Tampere Cup in Finland and the Multi-nations Championships in Canada last year.

Evans paid tribute to his new trainer Mark James at Pontypool, who he feels has improved him as a fighter since he left the Church Place gym run by Vince Cleverly, father of Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion Nathan.

“Mark has been great for me,” said Evans. “He’s really worked hard and I feel my defence is a lot better and I’m really starting to make progress.”

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)