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{{Short description|Welsh boxer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox boxer
{{Infobox boxer
|name = Fred Evans
|name = Fred Evans
|image =
| image =
| caption =
|imagesize =
| realname = Freddie William Evans<ref name="cg">{{cite web |url=https://thecgf.com/results/games/3046/event/1950 |title=Boxing 69kg – Men adelhi 2010 |publisher=The Commonwealth Games Federation |access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref>
|realname =
|nickname =
| nickname =
| weight_class = [[Welterweight]]
|weight = 69 kg<ref name=teamgb>{{cite web|title=Fred Evans|url=http://www.teamgb.com/athletes/fred-evans|website=teamgb.com|publisher=[[British Olympic Association]]|accessdate=29 May 2015}}</ref>
| weight = 69 kg<ref name=teamgb>{{cite web|title=Fred Evans|url=http://www.teamgb.com/athletes/fred-evans|website=teamgb.com|publisher=[[British Olympic Association]]|access-date=29 May 2015}}</ref>
|height = 5 ft 11 in
|reach =
| height = 5 ft 11 in
| reach =
|nationality = [[United Kingdom|British]]
| nationality = [[United Kingdom|British]]
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|2|4|df=y}}<ref name=teamgb/>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|2|4|df=y}}<ref name=teamgb/>
|birth_place = St. Mellons, [[Cardiff]], [[Wales]]
| birth_place = St. Mellons, [[Cardiff]], [[Wales]]
|death_date =
|death_place =
| death_date =
|website =
| death_place =
| website =
|style = [[Southpaw stance|Southpaw]]
|total = 1
| stance = [[Southpaw stance|Southpaw]]
|wins = 1
| total = 6
|losses = 0
| wins = 5
|draws =
| losses = 1
|no contests =
| draws =
|KO = 0
| no_contests =
| KO = 0
⚫
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry | {{GBR2}} }}
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | Men's [[amateur boxing]] }}
⚫
{{MedalCountry | {{GBR2}} }}
{{MedalOlympics}}
{{MedalOlympics}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2012 Summer Olympics|2012 London]]|[[Boxing at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's welterweight|Welterweight]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2012 Summer Olympics|2012 London]]|[[Boxing at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's welterweight|Welterweight]]}}
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{{MedalGold| [[2011 European Amateur Boxing Championships|2011 Ankara]] | Welterweight}}
{{MedalGold| [[2011 European Amateur Boxing Championships|2011 Ankara]] | Welterweight}}
}}
}}
'''Fred Evans''' (born 4 February 1991) is a Welsh [[boxing|professional boxer]] who represented Great Britain, fighting in the 69&nbsp;kg welterweight category.<ref name="profile">[http://www.gbboxing.org.uk/boxers/fred-evans GB Boxing | Fred Evans profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107133025/http://www.gbboxing.org.uk/boxers/fred-evans |date=2011-11-07 }}</ref> He won gold for Wales at the [[2011 European Amateur Boxing Championships]] in [[Ankara]] and had previously won gold at the [[2007 World Cadet Championships]] in [[Hungary]].<ref name="profile"/> He was ranked sixth in the world at 69&nbsp;kg and became the first Welsh boxer to qualify for the [[2012 Olympic Games]] at [[2011 World Amateur Boxing Championships]] in [[Baku]], [[Azerbaijan]].{{citation needed|date=August 2012}}


'''Freddie William Evans''' (born 4 February 1991) is a British [[boxing|professional boxer]] fighting in the 69&nbsp;kg welterweight category. As an amateur, he won gold at the 2007 World Cadet Championships in Hungary and won gold for Wales at the [[2011 European Amateur Boxing Championships]] in [[Ankara]]. He was the first Welsh boxer to achieve the feat in 86 years.
⚫
Evans won silver for Great Britain in the [[Boxing at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's welterweight|welterweight]] division, losing in the final to Kazakh boxer [[Serik Sapiyev]]


⚫
Evans won Olympic silver for Great Britain in the [[Boxing at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's welterweight|welterweight]] division, losing in the final to Kazakh boxer [[Serik Sapiyev]]. His achievement made him the most successful Welsh boxer in Olympic history, surpassing the record of [[Ralph Evans (boxer)|Ralph Evans]] at the [[1972 Summer Olympics]]. He turned professional in 2015.
⚫
In October 2014, Evans was given a suspended jail term after punching a friend - despite a judge saying he "deserved" prison. Evans admitted unlawfully wounding Michael Wilson at a Gloucestershire pub, breaking his jaw. The boxer's coach, Nigel Davis, made an impassioned plea for him to be spared a jail term.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-34665057</ref>


==Early life==
In December 2015, Evans announced he would be turning professional and signed with manager Chris Sanigar. He made his professional debut in May 2017.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/wales/35121402</ref>
Evans was born in [[Cardiff]], Wales to Tracey and Fred Evans.<ref name="tragedy">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/boxing/9470740/Boxer-Fred-Evans-fights-off-tragedy-to-win-Olympic-silver.html |title=Boxer Fred Evans fights off tragedy to win Olympic silver |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |last=Marsden |first=Sam |date=12 August 2012 |access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref> From a young age, he showed a keen interest in boxing, first attending a gym at the age of four with his father. He took up the sport himself, initially joining Cwmavon Hornets' gym, and fought his first bout at the age of ten.<ref name="Media Wales">{{cite news |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/other-sport/boxing-amir-khan-inspiration-fred-1802331 |title=Boxing: Amir Khan was inspiration for Fred Evans |work=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales |date=24 December 2011 |access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref> In March 2006, Evans' mother and younger sister Scarlett were killed in an automobile accident on the [[A48 road (Great Britain)|A48]] near Cardiff.<ref name="tragedy"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/officers-tears-triple-death-crash-2342897 |title=Officers in tears at triple death crash scene |work=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales |date=6 April 2006 |access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref> Evans is a member of the travelling community and is the cousin of fellow boxer [[Gary Buckland]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/9870712.fred-evans-tipped-to-be-a-world-champion-as-a-professional/ |title=Fred Evans tipped to be a world champion as a professional |newspaper=South Wales Argus |last=Penman |first=Andrew |date=14 August 2012 |access-date=2 January 2020}}</ref>

==Amateur career==
Evans joined St Joseph's Amateur Boxing Club in [[Newport, Wales|Newport]] as a teenager. He developed a reputation as a talented fighter and won a gold medal at the Four Nations Championships, a tournament between fighters from the [[Home Nations]], at the age of 15 weeks after the death of his mother.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/tragic-past-cardiff-olympics-boxing-2025567 |title=The tragic past of Cardiff Olympics boxing hero Fred Evans |work=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales |last=Gaskell |first=Simon |date=10 August 2012 |access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref> Evans went on to win gold at the 2007 World Cadet Championships in [[Hungary]].<ref name="profile">[http://www.gbboxing.org.uk/boxers/fred-evans GB Boxing | Fred Evans profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107133025/http://www.gbboxing.org.uk/boxers/fred-evans |date=7 November 2011 }}</ref> He also entered the [[2008 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships]] in [[Guadalajara]] but was defeated by eventual winner, Irish fighter [[Ray Moylette]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/moylett-gold-mccarthy-bronze-at-world-youth-boxing-championships-28452549.html |title=Moylett gold, McCarthy bronze at World Youth boxing championships |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |last=Kelly |first=David |date=3 November 2008 |access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref> In the same year, Evans was picked to travel with the British side to the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] in [[Beijing]] at the age of 17 in order to experience the atmosphere at the games before being selected for the GB development squad.<ref name="tragedy"/>

Evans was also one of eight fighters from St Josephs who were chosen to represent Wales in the Senior Novice Welsh Championships against a team from the United States in 2009.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/4695884.st-josephs-have-eight-in-seniors/ |title=St Joseph's have eight in seniors |newspaper=South Wales Argus |date=22 October 2009 |access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref> The following year, he was selected in a British side for an event against boxers representing the [[Rest of the world in sports and games|Rest of the World]] organised by the [[World Boxing Council]] (WBC). Evans met American fighter [[Errol Spence Jr.]] where, despite a strong start to the fight, he eventually suffered a 15–9 points defeat.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/8305863.evans-and-selby-downcast-in-defeat/ |title=Evans and Selby downcast in defeat |newspaper=South Wales Argus |date=1 August 2010 |access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref> The same year Evans competed in the [[2010 Commonwealth Games]] in [[Delhi]] but suffered a first round points defeat to Mauritanian fighter [[Kennedy St-Pierre]].<ref name="cg"/>

In 2011, Evans competed in the [[2011 European Amateur Boxing Championships|European Amateur Boxing Championships]] in [[Ankara]]. He defeated Belarusian [[Magomed Nurutdinov]] 15–9 on points to win a gold medal. His victory, along with that of flyweight [[Andrew Selby]], was the first time a Welsh fighter had won gold at the event for 86 years and only the third time a British fighter had won since 1961.<ref name="bunce">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/other-events/boxing-evans-sets-up-revenge-match-with-lithuanian-7986242.html |title=Boxing: Evans sets up revenge match with Lithuanian |newspaper=The Independent |last=Bunce |first=Steve |date=30 July 2012 |access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/13907772 |title=Welshmen Andrew Selby & Fred Evans win European boxing golds |publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 June 2011 |access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref> Later the same year, Evans reached the quarter-finals of the [[2011 AIBA World Boxing Championships]] in [[Baku]],<ref name="selected">{{cite news |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/boxing/boxing-welsh-pair-confirmed-london-1799158 |title=Boxing: Welsh pair confirmed for London 2012 |work=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales |date=3 December 2011 |access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref> being stopped by Lithuanian [[Egidijus Kavaliauskas]].<ref name="bunce"/><ref name="egi">{{cite news |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/other-sport/boxing-welshman-fred-evans-promises-2028347 |title=Boxing: Welshman Fred Evans promises revenge on Lithuanian after first Olympic win |work=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales |last=Blanche |first=Phil |date=30 July 2012 |access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref>

===2012 Olympics===
Following his performances at the European and World Championships, Evans was confirmed as the youngest member of Britain's boxing squad for the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] in [[London]] in late 2011 at the age of 21,<ref name="selected"/> entering the tournament as the number two ranked amateur welterweight in the world.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/other-sport/evans-begins-bid-for-glory-2028307 |title=Evans begins bid for glory |work=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales |last=Griffiths |first=Gareth |date=29 July 2012 |access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref> Evans was one of two Welsh fighters included in the squad, along with Andrew Selby, the first time any Welsh fighter had made the GB Olympic boxing squad since 1984.<ref name="glitter">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/19162366 |title=Olympics boxing: Fred Evans targeting glittering future |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 August 2012 |access-date=2 January 2020}}</ref> His selection fulfilled a childhood dream of competing at an Olympic Games having idolised [[Amir Khan (boxer)|Amir Khan]] following his breakthrough at the [[2004 Summer Olympics]].<ref name="Media Wales"/> In preparation for the games, Evans relocated to the Team GB gym run by [[Robert McCracken]] and also sparred with [[Carl Froch]] ahead of his [[list of IBF world champions#Super middleweight|IBF super-middleweight title]] fight with [[Lucian Bute]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/other-sport/boxing-froch-fire-fuels-fred-2027610 |title=Boxing: Froch fire fuels Fred Evans Olympic dream |work=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales |last=Griffiths |first=Gareth |date=17 July 2012 |access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref>

Evans made his Olympic debut on 29 July 2012 against Algerian [[Ilyas Abbadi]] in front of a partisan home crowd at the [[ExCeL London]]. His quarter-final exit in the previous years world championships resulted in Evans losing out on a [[Bye (sports)|first round bye]]. Boxing pundit [[Steve Bunce]] commented the Evans "picked his punches with ease" as he won the fight by a comfortable 18–10 points decision. His victory set-up a rematch with Egidijus Kavaliauskas who had defeated Evans at the world championships the previous year.<ref name="bunce"/> Kavaliauskas proved a much sterner test in the second round, as the Lithuanian took the first round of the bout. Evans fought back to tie the fight at 5–5 at the end of the second round before producing a "masterclass" in the third to secure an 11–7 victory and advance to the quarter-finals.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/03/london-2012-fred-evans-boxing |title=Fred Evans reaches boxing welterweight quarter-final |newspaper=The Guardian |date=3 August 2012 |access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref>

Evans met Canadian [[Custio Clayton]] in the quarter-final, ending the first round with a five-point advantage over his opponent. However, Clayton fought back, trailing by two points after the second round before tying the fight at 14 each at the end of the fight. As a result, the fight was decided by countback, handing Evans victory.<ref name="qf">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/18903570 |title=Olympics boxing: Fred Evans through but Andrew Selby out |publisher=BBC Sport |last=Dirs |first=Ben |date=8 August 2012 |access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref> The Canadian team unsuccessfully appealed the decision, claiming Evans should have been deducted points for receiving persistent warnings from the referee.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/boxing/fred-evans-guaranteed-olympics-boxing-2057072 |title=Fred Evans guaranteed Olympics boxing medal despite Canada appeal |work=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales |date=7 August 2012 |access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref> Victory guaranteed Evans at least a bronze medal and Evans was one of the five boxers that had equalled Britain's best ever boxing medal tally at an Olympic Games since [[1956 Summer Olympics|1956]].<ref name="qf"/> In the semi-final, Evans met the world number one ranked fighter, Ukrainian [[Taras Shelestyuk]]. The first round of the fight was subdued as both fighters settled and but Evans took a 4–1 lead. He maintained his lead through the second round which finished 8–5 as Shelestyuk pushed forward. Although Shelestyuk won the third round, Evans held on to claim an 11–10 victory.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/other-sport/fred-evans-created-history-becoming-2057352 |title=Fred Evans has created history by becoming the first Welsh boxer to reach an Olympic final |work=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales |date=11 August 2012 |access-date=2 January 2020}}</ref>

In the final, Evans met [[Serik Sapiyev]] of Kazakhstan on 12 August. However, Evans struggled to establish himself in the fight and Sapiyev won a comfortable 17–9 victory.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/12/fred-evans-silver-medal-boxing |title=London 2012: Fred Evans takes silver after losing welterweight final |newspaper=The Guardian |last=Mitchell |first=Kevin |date=12 August 2012 |access-date=2 January 2020}}</ref> Despite his defeat, Evans' silver medal made him the most successful Welsh Olympic boxer ever, surpassing the bronze medal won by [[Ralph Evans (boxer)|Ralph Evans]] at the [[1972 Summer Olympics]].<ref name="glitter"/>

===Post Olympics===
Evans returned to the ring in November 2012 to compete for the [[British Lionhearts]] team in the [[World Series of Boxing]] event.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lionheart-fred-evans-returns-to-ring-with-rio-still-an-option-67zk9c9zz3g |title=Lionheart Fred Evans returns to ring with Rio still an option |newspaper=The Times |last=Lewis |first=Ron |date=21 November 2012 |access-date=2 January 2020}}</ref> He defeated Michel Tavares of the Italia Thunder in his debut in the competition via split decision.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/10069044.fred-evans-seals-win-for-british-lionhearts/ |title=Fred Evans seals win for British Lion hearts |newspaper=South Wales Argus |last=Penman |first=Andrew |date=23 November 2012 |access-date=2 January 2020}}</ref>

Evans was named in the British squad to compete at the [[2013 AIBA World Boxing Championships]] in Kazakhstan. He entered the tournament as the number one ranked welterweight but suffered a defeat to German [[Arajik Marutjan]] in the early rounds of the competition.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/24639054 |title=World Amateur Championships: Fowler & Selby secure medals |publisher=BBC Sport |date=23 October 2013 |access-date=2 January 2020}}</ref> He was selected in the Welsh team for the [[2014 Commonwealth Games]] and was regarded as one of his nation's biggest hopes of a medal.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/wales/28425860 |title=Glasgow 2014: Fred Evans out Wales Commonwealth team |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 July 2014 |access-date=2 January 2020}}</ref> However, he was denied accreditation to compete at the tournament due to a conviction for assault earlier in the year.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jul/22/fred-evans-refused-commonwealth-games-boxing |title=Welsh boxer Fred Evans refused Commonwealth Games accreditation |newspaper=The Guardian |last=Riach |first=James |date=22 July 2014 |access-date=2 January 2020}}</ref>

==Professional career==
In December 2015, Evans announced he would be turning professional and signed with manager [[Chris Sanigar]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/wales/35121402 |title=Fred Evans: Olympic boxer moves into professional ranks |publisher=BBC Sport |date=17 December 2015 |access-date=2 January 2020}}</ref> He made his professional debut in May 2017, defeating Najim Fennane on points in Cardiff.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/wales/40067545 |title=Andrew Selby: Welshman wins world title eliminator in Cardiff |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 May 2017 |access-date=2 January 2020}}</ref> Evans won four further fights in the following year to advance his record to 5–0. In October 2018, Evans suffered a surprise defeat to Ryan Toms in his sixth professional fight. Toms knocked Evans down for the first time in his career during the second round and won the fight with a second knockdown in the same round.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/17205131.trainer-tony-borg-backs-fred-evans-to-recover-from-setback-of-first-pro-defeat/ |title=Trainer Tony Borg backs Fred Evans to recover from setback of first pro defeat |newspaper=South Wales Argus |last=Williams |first=David |date=6 November 2018 |access-date=2 January 2020}}</ref>

==Personal life==

In April 2014, Evans plead guilty to Common assault following a fight at a lap-dancing club in [[Birmingham]] two months earlier. He was fined £435 as well as being ordered to pay £500 compensation to the victim.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-27064244 |title=Olympic boxer Fred Evans fined for lap-dance club assault |work=BBC News |date=17 April 2014 |access-date=2 January 2020}}</ref>
⚫
In October 2014, Evans was given a suspended jail term after punching a man in a pub in Gloucestershire – despite a judge saying he "deserved" prison. Evans admitted unlawfully wounding the victim, breaking his jaw.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-34665057 |title=Boxer Fred Evans gets suspended jail term over pub attack |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 October 2015 |access-date=2 January 2020}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*{{Boxrec|797537}}
* {{BoxRec}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{Olympics.com profile|freddie-evans}}
* {{BOA profile}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Evans, Fred}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Evans, Fred}}
[[Category:Welsh male boxers]]
[[Category:Welsh male boxers]]
[[Category:Welterweight boxers]]
[[Category:Welterweight boxers]]
[[Category:People from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan]]
[[Category:1991 births]]
[[Category:1991 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Boxers at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Boxers at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Olympic boxers of Great Britain]]
[[Category:Olympic boxers for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in boxing]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in boxing]]
[[Category:Welsh Olympic medallists]]
[[Category:Welsh Olympic competitors]]
[[Category:Boxers at the 2010 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Boxers at the 2010 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games competitors for Wales]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games competitors for Wales]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:21st-century British sportsmen]]


{{UK-boxing-bio-stub}}

Latest revision as of 03:25, 27 November 2024

Fred Evans
Born
Freddie William Evans[2]

(1991-02-04) 4 February 1991 (age 33)[1]
St. Mellons, Cardiff, Wales
NationalityBritish
Statistics
Weight classWelterweight
Weight(s)69 kg (152 lb)[1]
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights6
Wins5
Wins by KO0
Losses1
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing  Great Britain
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2012 London Welterweight
Representing  Wales
European Amateur Championships
Gold medal – first place 2011 Ankara Welterweight

Freddie William Evans (born 4 February 1991) is a British professional boxer fighting in the 69 kg welterweight category. As an amateur, he won gold at the 2007 World Cadet Championships in Hungary and won gold for Wales at the 2011 European Amateur Boxing Championships in Ankara. He was the first Welsh boxer to achieve the feat in 86 years.

Evans won Olympic silver for Great Britain in the welterweight division, losing in the final to Kazakh boxer Serik Sapiyev. His achievement made him the most successful Welsh boxer in Olympic history, surpassing the record of Ralph Evans at the 1972 Summer Olympics. He turned professional in 2015.

Early life

[edit]

Evans was born in Cardiff, Wales to Tracey and Fred Evans.[3] From a young age, he showed a keen interest in boxing, first attending a gym at the age of four with his father. He took up the sport himself, initially joining Cwmavon Hornets' gym, and fought his first bout at the age of ten.[4] In March 2006, Evans' mother and younger sister Scarlett were killed in an automobile accident on the A48 near Cardiff.[3][5] Evans is a member of the travelling community and is the cousin of fellow boxer Gary Buckland.[6]

Amateur career

[edit]

Evans joined St Joseph's Amateur Boxing Club in Newport as a teenager. He developed a reputation as a talented fighter and won a gold medal at the Four Nations Championships, a tournament between fighters from the Home Nations, at the age of 15 weeks after the death of his mother.[7] Evans went on to win gold at the 2007 World Cadet Championships in Hungary.[8] He also entered the 2008 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships in Guadalajara but was defeated by eventual winner, Irish fighter Ray Moylette.[9] In the same year, Evans was picked to travel with the British side to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing at the age of 17 in order to experience the atmosphere at the games before being selected for the GB development squad.[3]

Evans was also one of eight fighters from St Josephs who were chosen to represent Wales in the Senior Novice Welsh Championships against a team from the United States in 2009.[10] The following year, he was selected in a British side for an event against boxers representing the Rest of the World organised by the World Boxing Council (WBC). Evans met American fighter Errol Spence Jr. where, despite a strong start to the fight, he eventually suffered a 15–9 points defeat.[11] The same year Evans competed in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi but suffered a first round points defeat to Mauritanian fighter Kennedy St-Pierre.[2]

In 2011, Evans competed in the European Amateur Boxing Championships in Ankara. He defeated Belarusian Magomed Nurutdinov 15–9 on points to win a gold medal. His victory, along with that of flyweight Andrew Selby, was the first time a Welsh fighter had won gold at the event for 86 years and only the third time a British fighter had won since 1961.[12][13] Later the same year, Evans reached the quarter-finals of the 2011 AIBA World Boxing Championships in Baku,[14] being stopped by Lithuanian Egidijus Kavaliauskas.[12][15]

2012 Olympics

[edit]

Following his performances at the European and World Championships, Evans was confirmed as the youngest member of Britain's boxing squad for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London in late 2011 at the age of 21,[14] entering the tournament as the number two ranked amateur welterweight in the world.[16] Evans was one of two Welsh fighters included in the squad, along with Andrew Selby, the first time any Welsh fighter had made the GB Olympic boxing squad since 1984.[17] His selection fulfilled a childhood dream of competing at an Olympic Games having idolised Amir Khan following his breakthrough at the 2004 Summer Olympics.[4] In preparation for the games, Evans relocated to the Team GB gym run by Robert McCracken and also sparred with Carl Froch ahead of his IBF super-middleweight title fight with Lucian Bute.[18]

Evans made his Olympic debut on 29 July 2012 against Algerian Ilyas Abbadi in front of a partisan home crowd at the ExCeL London. His quarter-final exit in the previous years world championships resulted in Evans losing out on a first round bye. Boxing pundit Steve Bunce commented the Evans "picked his punches with ease" as he won the fight by a comfortable 18–10 points decision. His victory set-up a rematch with Egidijus Kavaliauskas who had defeated Evans at the world championships the previous year.[12] Kavaliauskas proved a much sterner test in the second round, as the Lithuanian took the first round of the bout. Evans fought back to tie the fight at 5–5 at the end of the second round before producing a "masterclass" in the third to secure an 11–7 victory and advance to the quarter-finals.[19]

Evans met Canadian Custio Clayton in the quarter-final, ending the first round with a five-point advantage over his opponent. However, Clayton fought back, trailing by two points after the second round before tying the fight at 14 each at the end of the fight. As a result, the fight was decided by countback, handing Evans victory.[20] The Canadian team unsuccessfully appealed the decision, claiming Evans should have been deducted points for receiving persistent warnings from the referee.[21] Victory guaranteed Evans at least a bronze medal and Evans was one of the five boxers that had equalled Britain's best ever boxing medal tally at an Olympic Games since 1956.[20] In the semi-final, Evans met the world number one ranked fighter, Ukrainian Taras Shelestyuk. The first round of the fight was subdued as both fighters settled and but Evans took a 4–1 lead. He maintained his lead through the second round which finished 8–5 as Shelestyuk pushed forward. Although Shelestyuk won the third round, Evans held on to claim an 11–10 victory.[22]

In the final, Evans met Serik Sapiyev of Kazakhstan on 12 August. However, Evans struggled to establish himself in the fight and Sapiyev won a comfortable 17–9 victory.[23] Despite his defeat, Evans' silver medal made him the most successful Welsh Olympic boxer ever, surpassing the bronze medal won by Ralph Evans at the 1972 Summer Olympics.[17]

Post Olympics

[edit]

Evans returned to the ring in November 2012 to compete for the British Lionhearts team in the World Series of Boxing event.[24] He defeated Michel Tavares of the Italia Thunder in his debut in the competition via split decision.[25]

Evans was named in the British squad to compete at the 2013 AIBA World Boxing Championships in Kazakhstan. He entered the tournament as the number one ranked welterweight but suffered a defeat to German Arajik Marutjan in the early rounds of the competition.[26] He was selected in the Welsh team for the 2014 Commonwealth Games and was regarded as one of his nation's biggest hopes of a medal.[27] However, he was denied accreditation to compete at the tournament due to a conviction for assault earlier in the year.[28]

Professional career

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In December 2015, Evans announced he would be turning professional and signed with manager Chris Sanigar.[29] He made his professional debut in May 2017, defeating Najim Fennane on points in Cardiff.[30] Evans won four further fights in the following year to advance his record to 5–0. In October 2018, Evans suffered a surprise defeat to Ryan Toms in his sixth professional fight. Toms knocked Evans down for the first time in his career during the second round and won the fight with a second knockdown in the same round.[31]

Personal life

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In April 2014, Evans plead guilty to Common assault following a fight at a lap-dancing club in Birmingham two months earlier. He was fined £435 as well as being ordered to pay £500 compensation to the victim.[32] In October 2014, Evans was given a suspended jail term after punching a man in a pub in Gloucestershire – despite a judge saying he "deserved" prison. Evans admitted unlawfully wounding the victim, breaking his jaw.[33]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Fred Evans". teamgb.com. British Olympic Association. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Boxing 69kg – Men adelhi 2010". The Commonwealth Games Federation. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Marsden, Sam (12 August 2012). "Boxer Fred Evans fights off tragedy to win Olympic silver". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Boxing: Amir Khan was inspiration for Fred Evans". WalesOnline. Media Wales. 24 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Officers in tears at triple death crash scene". WalesOnline. Media Wales. 6 April 2006. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  6. ^ Penman, Andrew (14 August 2012). "Fred Evans tipped to be a world champion as a professional". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  7. ^ Gaskell, Simon (10 August 2012). "The tragic past of Cardiff Olympics boxing hero Fred Evans". WalesOnline. Media Wales. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  8. ^ GB Boxing | Fred Evans profile Archived 7 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Kelly, David (3 November 2008). "Moylett gold, McCarthy bronze at World Youth boxing championships". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  10. ^ "St Joseph's have eight in seniors". South Wales Argus. 22 October 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  11. ^ "Evans and Selby downcast in defeat". South Wales Argus. 1 August 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  12. ^ a b c Bunce, Steve (30 July 2012). "Boxing: Evans sets up revenge match with Lithuanian". The Independent. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  13. ^ "Welshmen Andrew Selby & Fred Evans win European boxing golds". BBC Sport. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  14. ^ a b "Boxing: Welsh pair confirmed for London 2012". WalesOnline. Media Wales. 3 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  15. ^ Blanche, Phil (30 July 2012). "Boxing: Welshman Fred Evans promises revenge on Lithuanian after first Olympic win". WalesOnline. Media Wales. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  16. ^ Griffiths, Gareth (29 July 2012). "Evans begins bid for glory". WalesOnline. Media Wales. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  17. ^ a b "Olympics boxing: Fred Evans targeting glittering future". BBC Sport. 8 August 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  18. ^ Griffiths, Gareth (17 July 2012). "Boxing: Froch fire fuels Fred Evans Olympic dream". WalesOnline. Media Wales. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  19. ^ "Fred Evans reaches boxing welterweight quarter-final". The Guardian. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  20. ^ a b Dirs, Ben (8 August 2012). "Olympics boxing: Fred Evans through but Andrew Selby out". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  21. ^ "Fred Evans guaranteed Olympics boxing medal despite Canada appeal". WalesOnline. Media Wales. 7 August 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  22. ^ "Fred Evans has created history by becoming the first Welsh boxer to reach an Olympic final". WalesOnline. Media Wales. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  23. ^ Mitchell, Kevin (12 August 2012). "London 2012: Fred Evans takes silver after losing welterweight final". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  24. ^ Lewis, Ron (21 November 2012). "Lionheart Fred Evans returns to ring with Rio still an option". The Times. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  25. ^ Penman, Andrew (23 November 2012). "Fred Evans seals win for British Lion hearts". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  26. ^ "World Amateur Championships: Fowler & Selby secure medals". BBC Sport. 23 October 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  27. ^ "Glasgow 2014: Fred Evans out Wales Commonwealth team". BBC Sport. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  28. ^ Riach, James (22 July 2014). "Welsh boxer Fred Evans refused Commonwealth Games accreditation". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  29. ^ "Fred Evans: Olympic boxer moves into professional ranks". BBC Sport. 17 December 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  30. ^ "Andrew Selby: Welshman wins world title eliminator in Cardiff". BBC Sport. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  31. ^ Williams, David (6 November 2018). "Trainer Tony Borg backs Fred Evans to recover from setback of first pro defeat". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  32. ^ "Olympic boxer Fred Evans fined for lap-dance club assault". BBC News. 17 April 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  33. ^ "Boxer Fred Evans gets suspended jail term over pub attack". BBC Sport. 29 October 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
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