CRAIG Evans is hoping the kudos that comes with being a two-time European champion will finally earn him the big fights he feels should be coming his way.

The Blackwood star outpointed Englishman Boy Jones Jnr at the Hilton Hotel in London’s Mayfair on Monday night to regain the WBO European lightweight crown.

His victory on promoter Frank Warren’s show came almost two years to the day after he first captured the title by dethroning Thomas Stalker in Cardiff.

This time around, Evans was awarded the contest 97-93, 97-93, 98-92, giving him the 19th success of a 23-fight career in the paid ranks.

In claiming the vacant strap, the ex-St Joseph’s ace also became former WBA world super-lightweight king Gavin Rees’ first professional champion as a coach.

And after returning home from the capital at 5am on Monday, Evans insisted that he now wants to be facing top-level opponents on a regular basis.

“I’m not too sure what’s going to be next for me,” said Evans, who is contracted to Warren until 2020.

“I’ve asked about fighting for the British title, but no-one got back to me.

“Hopefully people will take notice of me more after winning the European title again.

“If you want to be the best you’ve got to fight the best, and I just want to fight the best people out there.

“I want the big fights from now on, not the little ones, and this win should put me out there.

I’ll enjoy Christmas and then get back in the gym and start ticking over, and hopefully fight at the end of February or early March.”

Evans took the clash with Jones at less than a fortnight’s notice, losing 23 pounds in 12 days to make the weight limit.

Despite shedding so much weight in a short space of time, the 29-year-old only began to feel fatigued towards the end of the 10-round battle.

“It’s an awesome feeling to be a two-time champion,” he added.

“It was a good, hard fight. I tired towards the end, but I won it comfortably.

“Apart from the last round, when he caught me with some good shots, I was never troubled.

“He took some good shots too and is only 21, so he’ll come again.”

He continued: “I appreciate the support I had, and I received some good feedback after the fight.

“Gavin loved it as well as I’m his first champion as a trainer, and my daughter is loving having another belt in the house to play with.”