DALE Evans will never forget what happened on September 29, 2016, and the tragic events that followed, but he believes now is the time to refocus his mind and achieve what he has always wanted.

Now training at St Joseph’s in Newport, Evans almost gave up boxing after the death of opponent Mike Towell following the duo’s British welterweight title eliminator last autumn.

West Walian Evans, 25, won the fight with a fifth-round stoppage, however, the result was the last thing on everyone’s minds.

Getting back in the ring couldn’t have been further from Evans’ thoughts at the time as he grieved for Towell privately and at the 25-year-old’s funeral.

More than four months after Towell’s passing and Evans is setting his sights on capturing the Lonsdale Belt, not only for himself but for the former Scottish champion.

On moving forward following what happened, Evans said: “It’s obviously something I’m not going to forget but I have got to move on and get back to what I set out to do, which is to win that British title.

“The first couple of months after what happened were pretty tough but my friends and family, even Mike’s friends and family, and the Scottish people in general, were so supportive.

“People in Scotland have been asking for tickets and following me on social media, and it has given me that extra bit of motivation to go and win that title, not only for me but for Mike as well.”

He continued: “I went to Mike’s funeral and I was petrified. A lot of people told me not to go but I thought it was only right that I went and whatever happened, happened.

“I thought I should be there. I wouldn’t have liked to be living each day and people asking me what the funeral was like and me telling them that I didn’t go. I don’t think that would have been right.

“I had hugs from his mum and everyone else in his family, and his friends and trainers, it was touching.”

Evans went on to add: “For the first month or two after his death I was seeing what Mike’s family and friends were going through.

“I thought that could happen to me, I could be putting my girlfriend, my family and my friends through that.

“I didn’t want to box anymore and I thought there must be easier ways of earning money than getting punched in the face.

“But from an early age my goal was to be a boxer and succeed in that profession, and I don’t know anything else.”

Evans recently moved from Gary Lockett’s Cardiff gym to St Joes where he hopes to get that chance to fight for the British belt, which is currently owned by Bradley Skeete.

Skeete faces Evans’ fellow mandatory challenger Shayne Singleton this May, with the Welshman looking to get a crack at the title before the end of the year.

“I do believe I can win it, especially with Tony Borg behind me and the great boys I can spar with in the gym,” he said.

“I take one fight at a time. Fighters say they want to be a world champion but you’ve got to be realistic.

“It’s about making the most of every opportunity that comes to you.

“I could have a warm-up fight in a few weeks and lose it, and that could jeopardise my British title shot.

“With my mentality, which has always been to push my body to the max, and being around other guys in the gym who are on the same path as me, there are only good things to come.”

Cwmbran’s Lockett will remain as Evans’ manager.