CRAIG Evans insists the prospect of challenging unbeaten British super-featherweight king Sam Bowen in the English fighter’s back yard does not faze him one bit.

Blackwood’s Evans, a two-time WBO European lightweight champion, has been drafted in to face Bowen, 26, at Morningside Arena in Leicester on February 23 following the withdrawal of Ronnie Clark.

The 29-year-old Welshman’s chance to take the Lonsdale Belt from Bowen (14-0) came after the decision to pull him out of a British lightweight title eliminator against Joe Cordina.

Bowen, who beat Maxi Hughes for the vacant title last April, may have 10 wins inside the distance but that isn’t something Evans is too bothered about.

“I’m just happy to be fighting,” said Gavin Rees-trained Evans. “I didn’t care who it was against or what it was for, I’m just happy it’s a fight and I’m looking forward to it.

“It’s something to be looking forward to rather than just being in the gym and ticking over.

“They gave me three-and-a-half weeks’ notice for it, so I’ve been grafting hard for the check weigh-ins and then I’ve got just over a fortnight to lose about 13 pounds.”

He added: “I don’t really know much about Bowen, and I don’t really care.

“I’ve seen bits of him and he doesn’t faze me. I haven’t fought at super-featherweight for years, but if I turn up at 100% I’ll belt this boy out.

“I’ve got a good head on me and I know what to do. I’ve got no worries.

“I’m not bothered fighting in his back yard. He could have 50,000 fans behind him, but they’re not going to be in the ring.

“Hopefully I’ll go in there, do the business, and they’ll probably want me to stay at super-featherweight.”

Conflicting stories emerged from the Evans camp as to who made the call to not go ahead with the Cordina clash – the two fighters are former St Joseph’s stablemates.

Some, including trainer Rees, pointed the finger at manager Frank Warren, who in turn claimed it was Evans’ dad.

However, it wasn’t much longer after the Cordina bout fell through that Evans snapped up the opportunity to drop a weight and go for Bowen’s crown.

On the Cordina situation, Evans added: “It was a bit of a nightmare.

“I was training for that fight and then found out online that it wasn’t going to happen, which was a bit of a shock.

“I’m not sure what happened. Frank Warren pulled me out because he wanted me to go down a different route.

“With a British title eliminator, he said you could have four or five of them before fighting for the title.

“He said that because I’m a double European champion I should be going for a British title quicker than that. I can see where he’s coming from.”