Title for Craig 62 years after his grandad won it! (From South Wales Argus)

Title for Craig 62 years after his grandad won it!

10:45am Wednesday 10th June 2009

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TALENTED young Gwent boxer Craig Evans has followed in his grandfather’s footsteps by winning the British amateur senior featherweight title.

The Pontllanfraith teenager emulated the feat his 81-year-old grandad Selwyn Evans achieved at the Royal Albert Hall more than 60 years ago back in 1947.

And 19-year-old Craig, who fights out of the Pontypool Amateur Boxing Club, is being tipped for the top by some eminent pugilism pundits.

He has his sights firmly fixed on representing Wales at the Commonwealth Games in India next year and Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympics before turning pro.

He won gold at this year’s British Amateur Boxing Association Senior Championships featuring the cream of young Welsh, English and Scottish talent held at Liverpool’s Olympia venue. Craig beat England’s Leigh Wood 14-4 in the semi-final.

Then in the final, shown live on Setanta Sports, he faced Blain Younis from Northside ABC in Manchester, This is how Matt Bozeat, writing on the Amateur Boxing Association of England’s website, described what happened: “Younis had the misfortune to run into the outstanding boxer in the championships.

“He met Welsh teenager Evans in a clash of southpaws at 57kg and was outpointed 17-2.

“From the opening bell, Younis, a chunky fighter, launched his bustling attacks and Evans met him head on and blasted him with heavy wallops to body and head.

“After two rounds, Evans was 9-0 up and on his way to gold.”

A delighted Craig: “I feel very proud to have achieved what my grandfather did and I want to thank my trainer Mark James for everything he has done for me.

“I’d also like thank Wales coach Tony Williams, assistant coach Colin Jones (the former world welterweight challenger from Swansea) and team manager Royston Chambers.”

Craig’s proud dad Darren Evans, Selwyn’s son, said it was an emotional victory: “It was such a touching night. My father wasn’t with us in Liverpool but he has since seen the fight on DVD. He’s very proud.

“My dad is from Crumlin and used to box in Newbridge. He’s a real character and still goes ballroom dancing seven nights a week.”

Darren said Craig attracted the praise of the Setanta Sports commentary team, former super middleweight Richie Woodhall, who lost his last fight to Joe Calzaghe in 2000, and pundit and journalist Steve Bunce.

Darren said: “Steve Bunce said, ‘I really like this boy’ and they both said how impressed they were.”

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