Evans below best in lopsided points win

Zach Evans and Mitchell Pearce. Pic: Manjit Narotra/BCB Promotions

HOMETOWN hero Zach Evans will have mixed feelings about his win – the ninth on the spin – at Scott Murray’s Excelsior Club, Cannock, last night (Thursday).

Yes, the 27-year-old light-middle continued his march towards a title – and he fancies a shot at the Celtic belt.

Yes, Zach won the four rounder clearly and comfortably – 40-37 on referee Kevin Parker’s card. There were no scares, no moments when Estonian southpaw Andrei Antonov threatened to upset the applecart. The Eastern Europe was a nuisance, nothing more.

But former kick-boxer Zach was below his best. I have watched him on a number of occasions and been mightily impressed. This, at times, scrappy bout lacked the usual sparkle and wasn’t easy on the eye.

The rapid flow of punches and fine body shots were missing. Evans’ work looked laboured and forced.

Afterwards, he admitted: “I thought it was a six rounder until I got in the ring. I was rushing a bit, I felt I didn’t settle down enough.”

Boxers are not robots. Like us, they have off days – Evans has had his and not suffered because of it.

Both he and Antonov let punches go in the first before Zach (11st) drove forward in the second throwing right hands. He finished the session with a neat left hook and attempted to press home his advantage in an untidy third.

Antonov (11st 1lb) did connect with two rights in the last – on my card, the round he shared – and traded down the stretch.

It wasn’t vintage Evans, but it didn’t need to be.