DeAngelo Evans knows his upcoming headline bout with Justin Cardona is the biggest fight of his career.
The statement rings true in terms of both the stage on which he will appear and the level of opposition he will face.
The headlining eight-round junior welterweight bout will take place this Saturday at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California. It is just the sixth boxing event to take place at the site over the past 14 years.
Evans, 14-0 (13 KOs), turned professional in 2021 sans an amateur career. His lone combat sports experience came as a wrestler. He referenced his wrestling background going into the pivotal fight, comparing the two sports.
“It is a one-on-one-mindset sport,” Evans told BoxingScene. “You put in what you get out. It isn’t that different. Instead of slamming people, we are throwing hands.”
A 27-year-old from Kernersville, North Carolina, Evans has headlined cards at home, but this is his most significant opportunity.
“Being a main event doesn’t stress me out, but I feel this is a big fight,” Evans told BoxingScene. “It is a big deal for me coming from little ol’ North Carolina.”
Evans enters on a six-fight knockout streak, though versus lesser opposition. Cardona, 10-1 (5 KOs), is the first fighter Evans has faced with only one defeat.
Evans has fought only four fighters with winning records thus far, not counting his first four fights against opponents making their pro debut.
Cardona, a 25-year-old from Salinas, California, lost to spoiler Angel Rebollar in 2022. Since that defeat, he is on a two-fight winning streak, having most recently earned a split decision victory over Elijah Williams in May.
“From what I have seen and heard, he is a good fighter,” Evans said. “I don’t sleep on anybody and I don’t talk down on anybody.”
For this camp, Evans said he sparred with MMA fighter Tommy Cuozzi, whose style mimics elements of Cardona’s. He also took into account that Cardona could bring a pressure style of fighting.
“I probably ran a little bit more,” Evans said. “He might throw a little bit more punches; other than that, the game plan didn’t change.”
Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at @BigDogLukie.
