Bradley's a cut above
STevenage S teenage boxer Bradley Evans has made history for the club. Featherweight Evans, just 18, has become the first boxer in the Stevenage club s history to reach a senior ABA national final. Coached by Terry Emberson, he will be fighting at the Yor
STevenage'S teenage boxer Bradley Evans has made history for the club.
Featherweight Evans, just 18, has become the first boxer in the Stevenage club's history to reach a senior ABA national final.
Coached by Terry Emberson, he will be fighting at the York Hall, Bethnal Green, on Friday, May 16.
It is almost unheard of for a boxer at this age to reach the final of a championship that has been won by such boxers as Sir Henry Cooper, John H Stracey, Nigel Benn, John Conteh and more recently Ricky Hatton.
Evans went to Sheffield nursing a cut eye, picked up in his pre quarter-final against Eastern Counties champion Joey Taylor.
He knew that if the cut reopened, it would mean an almost certain stoppage defeat.
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In the quarter-final, he met the Combined Services champion from the Army, Corporal James Allen.
Evans fought in a controlled manner to protect his injury, consistently picking up points throughout the contest to win 18-5 after four excellent rounds.
The national semis were staged the following day at the same venue.
Evans came up against London ABA champion Junior Saheed of Eltham ABC.
The South London boxer was always going to be a tricky opponent with a massive height and reach advantage over Evans.
But the Stevenage boxer stuck to his game plan, got close to Saheed and switched his attacks from body to head.
After going 7-4 behind after two rounds, he battled back to 7-7 going into the last round.
Drawing on all of his experience of 60 bouts, he edged away to win 11-7 and now stands on the brink of achieving his dream.
