PALACE BOUND
Evangelou looking forward to being awarded with MBE in March,
THE Queen is meeting a boxing promoter at Buckingham Palace – and what’s more, he might be wearing a dog collar. Costas Evangelou was awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours list for his work with young people in Enfield.
“I’ve been working in the area for 30 years, running different projects,” said the 60-year-old, “and it’s nice to be recognised. It was a pleasant surprise.”
Fingers crossed, Evangelou can squeeze his visit to the Queen on March 19 into his hectic schedule.
Because he is an amateur boxing coach and judge, a professional boxing promoter – and a practising Bishop.
Costas says he’s often asked how he justifies boxing and his church work.
“Boxing isn’t a street fight,” he said. “It is regulated, consensual and I have seen how much good it can do for communities. I have people in my gym who have been involved in knife crime – and now they are boxing.
“Boxing changes lives for the better. It instils confidence, discipline and raises self-esteem. For young people in tough areas, it’s an alternative to crime. It gives a future.”
Evangelou has seen proof of boxing’s benefits. He set up Edmonton Eagles Amateur Boxing Club in 2004 and has seen young people turn their lives around.
Young people like Beni Mendua, who won the London Junior ABA title recently. “His life has taken a 360-degree turn since he came to us,” said Evangelou.
Unfortunately, his mother didn’t see that boxing would benefit his son.
The Evangelous – Costas, his parents and his three sisters – left Cyrpus when Costas was only a year old and settled in North London.
“I used to watch all the big fights,” he said, “and I wanted to box myself.
“But my family discouraged me. My father was very strict, he thought children should be seen and not heard, and my mother and grandmother were church going. England was a different place those days. The church was the centre of the Greek community and we were comfortable with each other.
“My mother couldn’t reconcile boxing and the church. The message was always to turn the other cheek. She didn’t see the benefits of boxing.”
Costas took a different approach with his own sons, Chris and Andreas.
He sent Chris to the gym “to build his confidence” and boxing for Haringey Police, he won the Novice lightwelterweight title and travelled the world representing Greece.
He missed out on the 2008 Beijing Olympics and turned pro.
“Every time Chris and Andreas boxed, we put posters up everywhere, went on Greek radio and got stories in Greek newspapers,” said Costas – and hundreds went to watch the brothers.
Chris’ career peaked with a pair of Southern Area title fights against Cassius Connor, while Andreas, a strong and willing cruiserweight who was unbeaten in 11 (one draw) before walking away around four years ago, is thinking over a comeback – and could box on his father’s show at Lee Valley Athletics Centre on Saturday, April 20, his second promotion.
Former European light-heavyweight champion Danny Mcintosh will top the bill, while Evangelou should three products of his Eagles gym on the bill as well, Hamza Alwan, Andre Sohchros and Aaron Gribben.
“I took out a promoter’s licence,” said Evangelou, “to help the fighters on their journey.
“It’s a career now, not a hobby and I know them and they trust me. They know I’m looking after their best interests. I’m not driven by money. I’m driven by love of the sport and helping people develop. I’m a people person.” Evangelou is a fit people person. “I do the circuits in the gym,” he said, “and I think the lads are surprised I manage to keep up with them.
“I’ve run the London Marathon the last two years.”
Evangelou also got in the ring recently, for a playful spar with Yassine El Maachi, who hopes to make his return at 39 on Evangelou’s next show, the first of four he has booked for this year.
“I know why people avoided him,” said Evangelou. “Why would you want to box someone like him unless you had to? He’s slippery and he can punch. I’m hoping he will box on the April show and then we will see where we can take him.”
Evangelou says he “learned lessons” from his first promotion and he could well have a sell out next time.
“I spoke to 150,000 people in Ghana last year,” he said, “and I told them they can all come to my boxing shows – as long as they buy a ticket!”
‘BOXING ISN’T A STREET FIGHT. IT IMPROVES LIVES’