Sam Evans is taking his boxing home
Wednesbury's Sam Evans is taking his boxing home with him as he continues life as Ricky Hatton's protege with another fight date.
Evans will again have 'the Hitman' in his corner when he steps through the ropes at Walsall Town Hall on December 5,
The boxing legend took the teenager under his wing earlier this year, with Evans in training full-time ever since under his boyhood hero.
That has meant relocating to Hyde in Greater Manchester, where Hatton's gym is located, and sharing a 'boxer's house' with three others.
Evans, Reuben Arrowsmith and Conor Benn - son of another former world champion and ring great in Nigel - are all together in digs.
Both Evans and Arrowsmith, from Market Harborough in the East Midlands, are on the Walsall bill, while Benn is staying an amateur.
They all co-exist as house-mates until the weekend, when Evans uses his two rest days to go home and stay with his parents in Friar Park.
He's training three times a day and is happy to become a 'Hatton clone,' campaigning in his coach's former division of light welterweight.
The Wednesbury Boxing Club graduate used body punches to force a third round stoppage of Latvian Zaurs Sadihovs on his pro debut.
He's back in Walsall two months later at the Town Hall rather than the football club, for another four-rounder against durable veteran Ali Wyatt.
Evans said: "Ali is a tough man who rarely gets stopped, just five times in 38 bouts I believe, so I'll be calling on skill as much as power.
"Like Ricky, my signature shot is the left hook, but we've been looking at mixing up my punches and disguising them wherever possible.
"I need to be a bit cuter than I was on my debut, we've talked about that and he has so much experience that I'm just soaking it up, like a sponge.
"I'll listen to Ricky's instructions and do what he asks, but I'll be targeting the body with the aim to find out just how durable my opponent is.
"Training has gone great and I've got the best of both worlds, really, I train through the week and then I can spend the weekends with my family.
"I still do my running when I'm at home, I go along the Walsall Road Bridge and it's quite peaceful. Much different to the house with them two!
"I spar a lot with Conor, too, and it always seems to turn into a war. He's a lot like his dad, in terms of fighting style, and has so much potential.
"Nigel spent a bit of time in the gym before my last fight and it was great to listen to advice from both him and Ricky. You can't buy that."
Evans has also spent a significant amount of time in the training ring with another Hatton charge, Anthony Upton, who tops the Walsall bill.
He'll challenge for the English title at Evans' weight against Joe Hughes, who is making his first defence. Upton is unbeaten after 11 contests.
Evans said: "Anthony's looking sharp and ready to take the title. I think he'll get the job done. He's got the right game-plan for the fight.
"Hughes comes forward and throws a lot of shots, like I do, but Anthony is so tough to land on. He always seems to be out of range.
"He can switch hit and change his stances, too, so I think he'll nick some of the earlier rounds and pile the pressure on towards the 10th."
Hatton co-promotes the show with Errol Johnson's Black Country Boxing, who have matched another six four-rounders for the under-card.
Wolverhampton's Des Bowater returns to action, nearly six months after missing his chance to go for the Midlands featherweight title.
'The Wednesfield Warrior' was ruled out of the bout through illness and then suffered a serious hand injury at work, but is back fit again.
'D Bow' will face Andy Harris still smarting at how Bobby Jenkinson seized the area crown and went on to win the Commonwealth title.
West Bromwich's Tom Stokes blew off the ring rust from a 18-month lay off at Walsall Town Hall last month and heads back to the venue.
The middleweight, still just 20 and undefeated after five bouts, has been provisionally paired to go toe-to-toe with the fearless Mark Till.
Super featherweight Jack Summers, also from West Bromwich, could make it a hat-trick of paid wins when he takes on the never-stopped Ian Halsall.
Brummie middleweight Luke Heron scored a TKO over fellow debutant Bryn Wain on his bow and now tackles Polish hard-man Robert Studinski.
Shropshire's Craig Morris has been paired with William Warburton in light middleweight action, while Stoke's Kieron McClaren steps in with former English title challenger Liam Richards at light welter.
Tickets, priced at £30 and £60 ringside, are on sale from the Town Hall Box Office on 0845 111 2900.
The after-show party and pre-fight weigh-in will take place at the Makoto Bar in Bridge Street, Walsall.
