Craig Evans (boxer)


Craig Anthony Evans is a Welsh professional boxer who challenged for the British lightweight title in 2015.

Professional career

Evans made his professional debut on 15 May 2010, scoring a first-round technical knockout over Dan Carr at Upton Park in London, England.
After winning his first 14 fights, three by stoppage, he fought Scott Cardle for the vacant British lightweight title on 30 May 2015 at The O2 Arena in London. The bout was part of the undercard of Kell Brook's IBF world title defence against Frankie Gavin. Evans suffered the first defeat of his career via unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the bout 116–112.
Following defeat to Cardle, he faced 2012 Olympian Tom Stalker for the vacant WBO European lightweight title on 10 October 2015 at the Manchester Arena. The bout was scored a split draw, with one judge scoring it 96–94 in favour of Evans, another scoring it 97–93 to Stalker while the third judge scored it even at 95–95. The pair had a rematch two months later on 19 December at the same venue, again for the vacant WBO European title. The bout was once again scored a SD, with one judge scoring it 96–94 for Evans, another scoring it 96–94 for Stalker and the third scoring it even at 95–95. After securing a points decision victory against Jordan Ellison in July 2016, Evans and Stalker agreed to settle the score once and for all in a trilogy fight on 26 November 2016 at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales, with the WBO European title being on the line yet again, although this time the title was in Stalker's possession. Evans defeated Stalker via majority decision to capture his first professional title. Two judges scored the bout 98–92 and 96–94 in favour of Evans, while the third scored it even at 95–95.
He successfully defended his title against Stephen Ormond in June 2017 before facing undefeated Roman Andreev on 3 February 2018 at the Bolshoy Ice Dome in Sochi, Russia. Evans suffered the second defeat of his career, losing his WBO European title via ninth-round TKO. At the time of the stoppage, Evans was ahead on all three judges' scorecards with 77–75 and 76–75 twice.
He bounced back from defeat with a PTS victory in a rematch with Jordan Ellison in September 2018 before challenging for the vacant WBO European title once again, this time against Boy Jones Jr. on 19 November 2018 at the Hilton Hotel in London. Evans captured the title for a second time, defeating Jones Jr. via UD. One judge scored the bout 98–92 and the other two scored it 97–93. He successfully defended the title in a rematch with Stephen Ormond in June 2019, before facing James Tennyson five months later in a non-title fight on 23 November at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool. Evans was dropped in the first round en route to an eleventh-round TKO defeat.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
25LossJames TennysonTKO11, 2:0023 Nov 2019M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool, England
24Win20–2–2Stephen OrmondUD102 Jun 2019Vale Sports Arena, Cardiff, WalesRetained WBO European lightweight title
23Win19–2–2Boy Jones Jr.UD1019 Nov 2018Hilton Hotel, London, EnglandWon vacant WBO European lightweight title
22Win18–2–2Jordan EllisonPTS67 Sep 2018Vale Sports Arena, Cardiff, Wales
21Loss17–2–2Roman AndreevTKO9, 1:193 Feb 2018Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi, RussiaLost WBO European lightweight title
20Win17–1–2Stephen OrmondUD1017 Jun 2017Waterfront Hall, Belfast, Northern IrelandRetained WBO European lightweight title
19Win16–1–2Tom Stalker1026 Nov 2016Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, WalesWon WBO European lightweight title
18Win15–1–2Jordan EllisonPTS816 Jul 2016Ice Arena, Cardiff, Wales
17Draw14–1–2Tom StalkerSD1019 Dec 2015Manchester Arena, Manchester, EnglandFor vacant WBO European lightweight title
16Draw14–1–1Tom Stalker1010 Oct 2015Manchester Arena, Manchester, EnglandFor vacant WBO European lightweight title
15Loss14–1Scott Cardle1230 May 2015The O2 Arena, London, EnglandFor vacant British lightweight title
14Win14–0Jacek WylezolPTS814 Feb 2015Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, England
13Win13–0Ronnie ClarkPTS1024 Nov 2014Hilton Hotel, London, England
12Win12–0Dame SeckPTS810 May 2014Olympia, Liverpool, England
11Win11–0Andoni AlonsoPTS87 Dec 2013Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
10Win10–0Youssef al-HamidiPTS817 Aug 2013Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales
9Win9–0Billy SmithPTS431 May 2013Town Hall, Walsall, England
8Win8–0Ideh OchukoPTS61 Nov 2012York Hall, London, England
7Win7–0Dougie CurranRTD1, 2:2125 May 2012Newport Centre, Newport, Wales
6Win6–0Marc Callaghan1, 3:0025 Feb 2012Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales
5Win5–0Ibrar RiyazPTS615 Oct 2011Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
4Win4–0Scott Moises5 16 Jul 2011Echo Arena, Liverpool, EnglandTD after Moises injured from accidental head clash
3Win3–0Sid RazakPTS412 Mar 2011Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland
2Win2–0Paddy McGarrity44 Dec 2010Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland
1Win1–0Dan Carr1, 0:3915 May 2010Upton Park, London, England