FRED Evans was first inspired to fight at the Olympics by Amir Khan’s silver medal in 2004 and now his boyhood hero is backing the Newport welterweight to go one better than him.

After overcoming Canada’s Custio Clayton by the narrowest of margins on Tuesday – by countback after blowing a five-point first-round lead – Evans tomorrow fights for a place in the Olympic final as Khan did eight years ago.

There he fell just short against Cuban great Mario Kindelan but his performance as a 17-year-old left a lasting impression on Evans who takes on Ukraine’s Taras Shelestyu tomorrow.

And even though Evans flattered to deceive against Clayton – a superb first round was cancelled out by his passivity in the second and latter half of third – Khan has seen enough of the 21-year-old to be convinced he can go all the way.

“Evans against Clayton was a brilliant fight,” Khan said. “Fred Evans is a great fighter and I really think he will make it to the finals.

“He is fighting the Ukrainian next and he had a very tough fight against the Frenchman. I really think that he is one to look out for.

“I had never seen him fight before so that was the first time I had seen him fight, he looks a great fighter.

“He had a great start in the first round going five points up and even in the second when he was two points up and towards the end it was equal.

“In the first two rounds he used his jab really well, he was moving well but then he eased off.

“It just shows that you can never stop working. I have never seen a fighter lose a five-point lead but it does happen.

“I think he has got a great chance of winning a gold medal. I know he has got a tough one against the Ukraine fighter but he is slick, tough and focused and I think he will go all the way.”

Despite flyweight Andrew Selby and light welterweight Tom Stalker’s defeats, Great Britain are guaranteed five boxing medals – their highest total since the 1956 Games in Melbourne when the late Terry Spinks won gold in the flyweight division.

That was also the last time Great Britain won two boxing gold medals in an Olympics but Khan feels that record will be at least matched if not surpassed also picking out middleweight Anthony Ogogo as one to watch.

He said: “I think Ogogo has beaten most of the top fighters in his division because he has beaten the world champion, the Ukrainian and then the German, who is another really good fighter.

“Ogogo now has to focus and I think he will get through.

“You need to have that attitude and that charisma to get to the top. Nicola Adams is also a very good fighter and I have been very impressed by her. There are some good fighters in the women’s divisions and I think it is only going to improve and get better.

“It is only making the sport bigger and making the fanbase bigger.

“Katie Taylor is another good fighter and I would not like to see her in the back streets, she would probably knock me out!”

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