BLACKWOOD southpaw Craig Evans is eager to show Welsh boxing fans what they have been missing over the last three years when he returns to fight in the principality on Saturday night.

Evans turns 27 in September and has yet to win a belt as a pro, but he is hoping another title shot is just around the corner following three failed attempts last year.

Whether that comes at super-featherweight or lightweight is another matter – the St Joseph’s star began his career at the former before moving up to 135lbs in early 2015.

He secured a clash with Scott Cardle for the vacant British lightweight crown and, after losing that bout on points, missed out on the European strap following two draws against Thomas Stalker.

Eight rounds at lightweight lie in store for Evans this Saturday when County Durham 21-year-old Jordan Ellison is his opponent at the Ice Arena Wales in Cardiff.

While Evans has only lost once in 17 outings and should be the favourite to prevail in the Welsh capital, Ellison, with a record of five wins and six losses from 11 fights, has never been stopped.

“It’ll be nice to fight at home again,” said the Welshman. “The only problem is half of the boys have been to the Euros in France and are now skint, but I’ll push as many tickets as I can.

“I’m keen to show Welsh fans what they’ve been missing and my preparation has been fantastic.

“I’ve had some brutal sparring at our gym with Lee Selby plus the Buckland brothers, Mitchell and Gary. You have to be on your game the whole time.

“Ellison’s never been stopped and he’s a gutsy come forward fighter who’ll not come to run away and survive. That’ll suit me.

“I never look to force stoppages – if they come, they come – but I’ll be hoping to win every round and deliver a really classy show for the Welsh fans.”

As for where he sees his future, Evans reckons there are more “big money opportunities” at lightweight but knows he couldn’t turn down a title shot at super-feather if one came his way.

He added: “The problem is nobody worthwhile will fight me at 130 (lightweight), rivals just turn me down or pull out.

“It’s very frustrating but, with the right notice to get the weight down, I’ll fight anyone they can deliver at 130 pounds. I’m sure I’d win one of the major belts and defend it several times.

“I’m comfortable at 135 and I don’t mind giving natural weight to stay busy. Against Scott Cardle I made the mistake of starting too slowly because of the uncertainty with it being my first 12-rounder.

“I’m competitive at lightweight and there’s probably more big money opportunities there.

“But if I’m offered worthwhile fights at super-feather, I’ll make the sacrifices.

“At 130, I’m a big awkward southpaw as opposed to a small lightweight, but I’ve a mortgage now and bills to pay so have to take whatever is offered.

“There’s plenty of good young fighters at 130 who all bring their own styles and attributes but they’re all beatable. Beating one of them would move me on towards a big title.”

On current British and Commonwealth super-featherweight king Liam Walsh, he continued: “Liam Walsh is a world-class talent who I really rate but again I’d never turn a fight down.

“To be viewed the best you have to beat the best and I’d have the chance to gain two major belts.

“Ideally, Liam will get an opening at world level and vacate his British and Commonwealth belts leaving me to have it out with one of the others.

“But I’m 27 in September and still to win a belt as a pro so it’d be silly to turn any title fight down.”