Cardle ready for battle of Britain

Cardle has completed his training for the biggest night of his career and said: “All the hard work has been done – now comes the easy part!”

The Cardle versus Evans clash pits two unbeaten fighters who share one common goal, getting that coveted Lonsdale belt fitted around their waist.

Cardle is convinced it will be his to own, and he has left little to chance in his preparation,

The 25-year-old has sparred with Saturday’s top-of-the-bill attraction Frankie Gavin and has put in the work to ensure that stamina won’t be a problem.

It will be the first time for both boxers over the 12-round championship distance, but it holds no terrors for Cardle, who says he needs the training rounds in the bank because it looks like being a distance fight.

Cardle, who holds the English lightweight title, said: “ I have only been 10 rounds before, but for this I have sparred 14 rounds in training and I feel better than I have ever done in my whole career.

“My weight is right now and I have had great sparring with Frankie Gavin, Tom Stalker and with a young lad called Jordan Cooke.

“Most of my sparring had been done with Jordan because he is a southpaw, like Evans.

“I have seen a quite a lot of Evans over the years and he has mixed with some world-class amateurs.

“I am not thinking that there will be an early stoppage and it could go the distance.”

Cardle versus Evans is on the undercard of a huge night of boxing in Greenwich, which is being screened pay-per-view by Sky TV.

There are three world title fights. heffield’s Kell Brook defends his IBF World Welterweight title against Gavin, while Londoner Kevin Mitchell challenges Jorge Linares for the WBC lightweight belt and Welsh stylist Lee Selby attempts to take the IBF featherweight crown from Evgeny Gradovich.

There is an intriguing match-up between Anthony Joshua and American Kevin ‘Kingpin’ Johnson at heavyweight.

Dave Ryan defends his Commonwealth light-welterweight title against John Wayne Hibbert, while Nathan Cleverly is also in action and Lucien Reid will be making his professional debut that night.

The running order for Saturday’s promotion has yet to be decided, but Cardle expects to be in the ring early as the first of the televised bouts.

Cardle will be supported at ringside by family members, including brother Joe, a professional goalkeeper who has just been released by Ross County.

Scott said: “Joe has played his last game for Ross County, but there are some Scottish clubs showing an interest in signing him.

“I am sure he will get fixed up with a club soon, and it will be great to have him supporting me on Saturday night.”

The weigh-in will take place at the O2 on Friday, with Cardle already making the weight at 9st 9lb.