DAILY SPORT catches up with Lightweight Welsh pro boxing ace Craig Evans ahead of his up and coming fight in November
PZ: How did you get into boxing?
CE: My older brother went to the gym and I basically followed! My grandfather was a highly decorated boxer so that also acted as an inspiration. He was Welsh and British Champion. My dad tells me I’m like a born again version of my grandfather because we have such similar successful careers.
PZ: You had a highly decorated career as an amateur. Tell us a bit more about those days.
CE: I had 84 amateur fights and won 72. I won several Welsh titles including an ABA title as a senior, and also a British title as a senior. I won a bronze at the European Unions, plus golds at the Tammer tournament in Finland and the St Catherine’s Cup in Toronto, Canada. I also boxed at the World Seniors in Milan but lost first time out to Lomachenko of the Ukraine, the reigning world and two time Olympic champion.
PZ: Toughest fight you had in the amateurs?
CE: Lomachenko
PZ: You are currently 7 – 0. How often would you like to be fighting to rack up more experience?
CE: I’d certainly like to be having more fights. I’ve only had 7 in just over two years, so I feel that’s pretty slow really. I would love to be in the ring more.
PZ: Have you had your opponent confirmed for the 1st November yet at the York Hall, Bethnall Green?
CE: Ideh Ockoku.
PZ: The fight is just round the corner. How’s the training camp been going?
CE: It’s been going really well. I’ve been training really hard and for the last seven weeks have been up in Manchester and Lee Beard has been putting me through my paces.
PZ: Tell us about the team around you. Who manages you, promotes, trains etc..
CE: Frank Warren is my manager and my promoter and Dean Powell is the matchmaker. Whenever they tell me I’m fighting then I take my training very seriously and to the next level about six to eight weeks before. Lee Beard is my trainer in Manchester.
PZ: I believe you have been spending some training with Mathew Hatton. How valuable has that been for you?
CE: Really valuable. I’ve had some good spars with him. You gain some great experience with the likes of Mathew. He’s fought the likes of Saul Alvarez, so the advice he has to offer inside and outside the ring is simply brilliant. He gave me some great advice recently where he said that you should not train any differently for a big stage versus a small stage. The strategy is important, not the venue.
We did some good sprint training together, and went through some good drills in the gym. A great experience.
PZ: What did you think of Ricky Burns recent performance against Kevin Mitchell and how do you think he would do against the top three, Antonio De Marco, Miguel Vazguez, or Adrien Broner?
CE: If I have to be honest I was pretty shocked. I thought Mitchell would win. Fair play to Ricky Burns, he’s really improved in recent years and has upped his game to an incredible level now.
It’s hard to say now after seeing how he did against Mitchell. Adrien Broner is an outstanding fighter though and it’s going to take someone very special to beat him. That said – it’s all about what happens on the day!
PZ: Great Britain has some world class boxers at lightweight. Within the top ten we are looking at Ricky Burns, Kevin Mitchell and Gavin Rees. Would you like the opportunity to be able to spar with them?
CE: Absolutely. I think I could hold my own with them. However, I’m going to fight at Super Featherweight when I fight for titles, so hard to say who I might cross paths with. After watching the Lightweight Prizefighter contest I looked at it and thought there’s nothing there I can’t handle. I’ve been doing some great sparring with Terry Flannigan in Manchester and he won the Prizefighter, so that has given me boost.
PZ: Where do you see yourself in 12 months?
CE: Hopefully I’ll be 12-0 and on the verge of fighting for a Commonwealth Title and British Title.
PZ: Any boxing nicknames?
CE: None as yet! I’d like to keep it that way!
PZ: Tell the readers one thing about yourself not many people know.
CE: Everybody knows me, so nothing new to bring to the table.
PZ: If you could spar three rounds with any past boxing legend in your weight category, who would it be?
CE: Oscar De La Hoya is my favourite all time fighter. I would have loved to have sparred with him
PZ: A big thanks for taking the time to speak with the DAILY SPORT.
CE: Any time.