Evans takes a big step to learning his trade

Cambridge-news.co.uk Aaron Mason21st June, 2010

Bradley Evans kept his unbeaten record intact by doing the double over Karl Taylor in their rematch at a show in London on Saturday.

Royston's former Senior ABA champion won 60-54 on points at York Hall after easing past the grizzled Birmingham veteran in composed fashion, despite being out of the ring for seven months.

Taylor, 44, who started his professional career two years before 21-year-old Evans was born, had stood off in their previous meeting in Watford last September.

But this time the former Midlands Area lightweight champion was in the mood to be awkward, holding and smothering Evans regularly throughout the six rounds.

Evans was always the aggressor, though, and the recent unplanned lay-off had clearly not affected the crispness of his punches with every round going his way.

Few have stopped the clever Taylor in his 160-plus contests - hence he could go on until he reaches his half-century - and Evans was not going to be one of them.

In fact, the closest there came to a knockdown was when the ring-card girl stumbled in her high heels between one of the rounds.

However, Evans visibly riled the ex-British title challenger with some stinging jabs, opening a nick on Taylor's right cheek in the final round before his fist was raised by the referee to mark victory.

Evans, who takes on Jason Carr at the same venue next month, said: "It was harder this time because he kept holding and it was annoying and frustrating.

"It was good to get this fight out of the way with a win and being uncut, then I can look forward to the next one.

"Over the last few months I've matured a lot and my strength has improved, and I felt I hurt him with a few shots.

"This is like an apprenticeship because I'm just learning my trade. But it's onwards and upwards from here."

But Newmarket's Matt Jack was left rueing a tight call, suffering a narrow 39-38 points defeat against Marco Stephenson in the bill-topping bout.

For someone who had lost on his debut, Stephenson cranked up the pressure on himself with a flashy entrance led by two pom-pom-waving cheerleaders.

World Firefighters Games champion Jack was not fazed after recently winning his first professional bout, and tested the Luton fighter with a piercing jab in the opening round.

Stephenson came back in an even second session with Jack covering up, looking to attack on the counter.

The Jamaica-born Stephenson began holding Jack, but still managed to appear the busier boxer - enough to give him the nod by the smallest of margins.

Jack said: "I'm very disappointed, especially because I thought I'd done enough to win it.

"I was taking a lot on the gloves and countering with better shots than he was landing."