CRAIG Evans says he has absolutely no intention of leaving anything to chance in Russia on Saturday night, as the European champion looks to land a world title shot by winning the biggest fight of his career so far.

The 28-year-old from Blackwood enters the lion’s den when he goes toe-to-toe with unbeaten home favourite Roman Andreev at the Bolshoy Ice Dome on the Black Sea coast.

The bout is a final eliminator for the WBO world lightweight crown – the winner will meet either Raymundo Beltran or Paulus Moses – while Evans' belt and the organisation’s international strap are also on the line.

Evans took the opportunity to lock horns with Andreev, 31, at only four weeks’ notice, yet he is supremely confident of upsetting the odds and ending his opponent’s unblemished record.

“I’m looking forward to showing what I can do,” said Evans, who is out in Adler, south-west Russia, with his St Josephs trainer Tony Borg and Pontypool ABC coach Lyndon James.

“If I win I’ve got a fight for the world title, so this one means everything to me, but I’ve got to go in there and produce the goods.

“If I don’t do that then I’m not sure where I’ll go next – I know I can’t let this chance slip.

“It’s going to be hostile. It’s in his home country, in his own back yard, so I know I can’t let it go to the scorecards.

“I’ll go in there, try and hurt him, push him back and go for the stoppage to eliminate any doubt.

“I know I’ve got to start fast and go through the gears as the fight goes on.

“If he wants to box then I’ll box him, if he wants a fight I’ll give him a fight.

“He’ll probably have a lot of support and the crowd will be against me, but that doesn’t bother me, there’s only the two of us in the ring at the end of the day.”

Andreev has won all 20 of his fights in the pro ranks since winning on debut nearly 10 years ago.

He claimed the vacant WBO inter-continental strap in September 2016 with a second-round knockout of the Philippines’ Rolando Magbanua.

Successful defences against Namibian Abraham Ndauendapo and South Africa’s Patrick Malinga followed last year.

“I met him at the press conference,” said Evans of Andreev. “He’s quite tall with a big head and big nose. He looks like a tough man, I guess a typical Russian boxer.

“He’s never lost a fight but his record doesn’t faze me, that’s why I’ve come out here when many others didn’t fancy it.

“If I turn up and produce the goods I know I’m going to win.

“This is massive because everyone dreams of fighting for a world title, so I’ve got to give it my all.”

Should Evans prevail he will have a keen eye on the clash between Beltran and Moses on February 16 when the world title, which is currently vacant, is on offer.