Sam Evans wants to become a 'Hitman'
Wednesbury's Sam Evans has been working on a 'peach' of a shot with his coach and boxing legend Ricky Hatton for Friday's fight night.
Evans has been guided into the pro boxing world at light welterweight where Hatton held three world titles,
'The Hitman' won IBF, IBO and WBA 'super' belts at 140lb, plus the WBA welter crown, over his own paid career before hanging up his gloves for good in 2012.
The 37-year-old Mancunian now trains fighters at his gym in Hyde and co-promotes this weekend's bill at Walsall Town Hall, alongside Errol Johnson's Black Country Boxing.
Hatton will be in the corner when Evans looks to make it a hat-trick of pro victories against the durable William Warburton.
The 19-year-old is from the same body punching mould as his hero and now mentor, who he grew up idolising.
The teenager has always rated Hatton's countout victory over Jose Luis Castillo in 2007, where a left hook to the liver broke four of his ribs, as the best punch he's ever seen.
Evans said: "Ricky is one of the best body punchers in boxing history, so there's nobody better to learn from.
"He teaches me all these little tricks in the gym and I can't wait for each fight to come up, because it gives me a chance to try out what he's taught me.
"I've watched the video of his fight with Castillo over and over and it's the perfect punch. I'd love to get off a body punch like that."
Castillo was counted out for the first time in his career that night and doing the same to Warburton would have a similar effect, albeit on a much smaller scale.
The tough man from Atherstone in Lancashire has been stopped just twice in 113 pro contests, the last over five years ago in bout 17.
Evans said: "He's scored a few upsets and he's as tough as they come, but I'm more than confident I'll get the win.
"I don't make predictions, I'm just sure I can get another win under my belt. It's easy for any boxer to say they'll knock their opponent out, but I'm not like that.
"I'll just go with the flow and do whatever Ricky tells me to in the corner."
The show will be headlined by Halesowen's Lennox Clarke, who co-challenges for the eight-round British Challenge super middleweight title against Richard Horton.
Hatton will also lead Reuben Arrowsmith and Nathan Gorman into battle, on a card titled 'Undefeated' with seven unbeaten fighters.
Light light middle Arrowsmith (3-0-0) goes up against Sam Wall, while Gorman eyes his second paid success against Jakub Wojcik.
Fellow heavyweight Matt Gordon, from West Bromwich, hopes to make it three straight wins against Lukas Horak. Sandwell cohort Manny Zaber (3-0-0) tackles Liam Richards at lightweight.
Stoke's Kieron McLaren (6-0-0) completes the card at light welter against the capable 'Fonz' Alexander Anderson in a six-rounder. The rest, apart from Clarke, are over four.
Tickets, priced at £30 and £60 ringside, are still on sale and can be bought from the Town Hall Box Office on 0845 111 2900. There will be some available on the door.
