Tuesday 13 October 2015 16:05, UK
Dale Evans' trainer Gary Lockett insists his man deserves a shot at the big title.
The 23-year-old was drafted in as a late replacement for the injured Frankie Gavin to take on Sam Eggington for the British and Commonwealth welterweight titles in Birmingham on Saturday, live on Sky Sports.
Evans (10-2-2-KO3) will be more than ready for the challenge that Eggington (16-2-KO9) will provide, despite only a couple of weeks' notice, after Gavin withdrew.
In Evans' last fight, he travelled to Sheffield to take on and beat Adil Anwar on points and was expected to fight the returning John O'Donnell in an eliminator for the British later this year, but he has been handed this opportunity and Lockett is sure he will take it with both hands.
"We got the call last Monday from Eddie Hearn to see whether we wanted it," he said.
I have no worries that Dale Evans will panic when he goes in with Sam Eggington He's totally unfazed by going into his backyard and will raise his game.
"They weren't sure if Dale was going to be ready, but he was meant to be on the card that has just gone in Newport, so there were no problems apart from some behind the scenes who tried to mess up Dale's dream and stop the fight happening.
"They've already met, when Dale beat Sam in Prizefighter, but a lot has happened since then. Sam has had a lot of hype, improved so much and will go in the favourite. However, Dale has been starved of opportunities and he'll be the first to admit that he hasn't performed in the big fights he has been given.
"For example the fight with Larry Ekundayo in March is a great example of two fighters who are in totally different places on the same day. But he put it behind him and got in with Adil Anwar, pulled out the win and proved himself to show he deserves a shot like this."
Lockett is confident that Evans will have no problem going into Eggington's backyard at the Barclaycard Arena and says the St Clears man is a model professional, prepared to test himself against the best. He also claims plenty of fighters turn down bouts with him in order to preserve unbeaten records.
"I have no worries that Dale will panic when he goes in with Sam," he said.
"He's totally unfazed by going into his backyard and will raise his game. He does seem to perform to the same level as who he is fighting, for example last year when he fought an Estonian journeyman; he only won 59-57.
"But in the Erick Ochieng and Anwar fights he was superb and showed he is a big-fight performer. He does need the fear factor and you only get that when you're in with the best. He'll fight anyone, anywhere and has no interest in padding his record.
"I've had plenty of guys turn down fights with him; guys who are 13, 14-0, which I don't see the point of. We're all in boxing to test ourselves against the best, which is all Dale wants. He's a model professional and we're confident he'll come out victorious on Saturday in Birmingham."
