MANAGER Chris Sanigar is confident Olympic Games silver medallist Fred Evans has what it takes to become a champion in boxing’s paid ranks after a successful amateur career.

Evans makes his professional debut in Cardiff on May 26 nearly five years on from reaching the welterweight final at London 2012.

St Joseph’s-trained Evans, 26, made the switch from the amateurs in December 2015 but is only now stepping into the ring as a pro.

“Fred has been back in the gym training with Tony Borg at St Joseph’s since Christmas and is recapturing the form that won him an Olympic silver medal,” said Sanigar.

“There is no doubting Fred’s talent and I believe he is showing the determination and grit to become a champion.

“Nothing is guaranteed in the pro game and Fred knows that. We have a long, tough road ahead with many hurdles to reach the top but I’m confident Fred can do it.”

Evans, a European gold medallist in 2011, will campaign at light-middleweight in the pros, but his opponent for the Cyclone Promotions show at the Motorpoint Arena is still to be confirmed.

“It’s been a long time coming but I can’t wait to be back in the ring and get back to doing what I do best,” said Evans.

“It’s great to be able to start my pro career boxing in my hometown of Cardiff after spending most of my amateur career boxing away from home.

“I reached the pinnacle of an Olympic final in 2012 and now my dream is to reach the top in the pro ranks, and that starts on May 26 in Cardiff.”

Evans isn’t the only St Joes boxer fighting at the Motorpoint Arena on May 26.

Unbeaten Andrew Selby, a teammate of Evans at the London Olympics, faces Nicaragua’s Cristofer Rosales in a WBC world flyweight title eliminator.

Gavin Gwynne, Daniel Barton and Lee Churcher are also scheduled to appear on a show co-headlined by Selby and Craig Kennedy, who meets Matty Askin for the vacant British cruiserweight crown.