Popular young light-welterweight prospect Chris ‘The Flash’ Evangelou returns to action this Friday for his second pro outing at Bethnal Green’s historic York Hall. The London-born Cypriot impressed on his debut, showing fast hands and sharp movement and looks set to be a firm fans favourite with his exciting style and striking speed. BoxRec News correspondent David Simpson caught up with him ahead of the 12th.

 

"Training's going really well,” said Evangelou. “I've trained even harder than for my first fight because I want to keep up my performance.

 

"I never underestimate anyone, whoever I'm going to be fighting is going to be in the ring to try and knock me out so I've got to just train my heart out and do my best on the night."

 

Evangelou’s opponent has yet to be named, though the 23-year-old was unfazed and confident regardless of whom he is to face.

 

"Throughout my amateur career, you don't really know who you're fighting until you step in the ring and then you have a look at them for the first time so I'm kind of used to that.

 

“I know that when it gets to maybe six rounds, eight rounds and so on, you're going to need to know who you're in the ring with and what their strengths and weaknesses are because you might be in the ring for twelve rounds so you need to watch out for certain strengths that they have. But at this level I believe that my amateur experience and my skill alone will be enough to win through.”

 

The former Cyprus International amateur will be fighting on the undercard of the Lenny Daws v Jason Cook British light-welterweight title fight and admitted he will be a keen spectator at ringside.

 

“Yeah, I've got both eyes on that fight! Two years from now I want to be British champ and the only way I'm going to do that is by knowing how to get there and looking at other boxers who've got the title, how did they do it, and what's the type of competition I have to beat.

 

“I'm looking for the world title, that's my dream, what I'm aiming for, however I need those stepping stones to get there and one of them is the British title, not underestimating getting it, it will be hard, but I need to see my opponents, see who they are, see who's in my weight, so definitely I'll be watching out for that fight, of course.”

 

The British title may be some way in the distance yet for Evangelou, but the promising prospect is looking busy, with his next fight already scheduled, on the undercard of Audley Harrison’s European heavyweight title tilt against Essex-based Pole Albert Sosnowski on April 9th. That bout will be particularly exciting for Evangelou and his large following, taking place only a stone’s throw from his home turf, at Alexandra Palace.

 

"I was born and raised in Wood Green so it's literally two minutes from my old house and my family live next door to Alexandra Palace so it's going to be really big for us.”

 

It’s looking like a bright start to 2010 then for one of the country’s brightest young fighters and that all starts this Friday on Matchroom’s York Hall bill that will also see North London's Michael Grant take on Steve Williams for the vacant English light-welterweight title and Tyan Booth fight Poland's Grzegorz Proksa for the vacant European Union middleweight title.

 

Tickets cost £30 and £50 and are available from 01277 359900.