Sam Evans will box relaxed tonight
Wednesbury's Sam Evans will be in no rush to get the job done when he boxes at Walsall Football Club this evening.
The undefeated 20-year-old steps back through the ropes with his mentor and boxing legend Ricky Hatton in his corner,
He's campaigning in the light welterweight division where his mentor reigned by winning IBO, IBF and WBA 'super' world titles during his own career.
Paid pugilism will again be the order of the day in the Stadium Suite at the Banks's, where Hatton joint promotes with Errol Johnson's Black Country Boxing.
Evans co-headlines with another charge trained by 'the Hitman' with Cheshire-based heavyweight Nathan Gorman, like him, going after his fourth straight win with no losses.
The one TKO the Black Country combatant has registered was on his debut in the Stadium Suite, in round three of four against Latvian Zaurs Sadihovs.
Another European opponent now awaits in Bulgarian Teodor Stefanov, but Evans won't rush his work in figuring out his unknown adversary.
He said: "I've learned to take my time and apply educated pressure, rather than just being relentless. A lot of that has come from Ricky.
"He's a fantastic trainer and pad man and every time I work with him and the other coaches, Blain Younis and Mike Jackson, I learn something new.
"Since turning over last October, I've felt a massive improvement in my skills and I just feel like a different fighter now.
"I've been sparring with some top guys and my technique has changed dramatically, as well. Every aspect of my boxing has improved. Whether it's in training, sparring or fights I can feel it.
"When I was an amateur, I was more of a basic aggressive fighter but, because of the adjustments we're making, I box more now.
"I use my jab more and look to use a more technical boxing style. It's all about controlled aggression and educated pressure now.
"It's the way I'm looking to go. Work my way in with the jab but, if I see them hurt, I won't hesitate to pile the pressure on. Everything is going to plan."
The under-card also features former British lightweight champion Martin Gethin and reigning Midlands light middleweight boss Jason Welborn.
Gethin also claimed the Midlands, English and IBF International belts over a 12-year career. He's now up at welter to take on Alexander 'Fonz' Anderson in a six-rounder.
The 32-year-old just wants to get back up and running again, after his comeback at Walsall Town Hall in March was postponed due to a pulled chest muscle.
Welborn, himself a two-time British title challenger, also appears. He destroyed Michal Vosyka in 56 seconds at welter last month.
Kieron McLaren and former world kickboxing champion Chad Sugden complete the line-up, the latter having already successfully made the switch.
Sugden, 21, held the ISKA world middleweight crown and remains the youngest to ever win a belt from that organisation.
He shut out the never-stopped Lithuanian Deividas Sajauka over-the-distance. The man from Newark in the East Midlands is known as '2 Slick.'
Unbeaten light welterweight McLaren will be after his eighth straight win as a pro. 'Gunner,' from Stoke, is still awaiting his first stoppage, though.
Some standard tickets for the show, at £30, will be available on the door tonight. The show's after party will be at sponsors the Grosvenor Casino in Walsall, on Bentley Mill Way.
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