DAVID Dolan stands one fight from greatness today after taking an unlikely route into the Commonwealth Games super-heavyweight final.

Two years after Audley Harrison reigned supreme in the same category at the Sydney Olympics, only Canada's David Cadieux can deny Dolan the gold medal he covets.

Dolan, from Sunderland, beat Kevin Evans yesterday after the fight doctor deemed the Welshman, who had blood flowing from a broken nose, was unfit to continue.

The win came with 26 seconds of the first round remaining after two earlier stoppages to clear blood from Evans's face, and it means Dolan has spent less than nine minutes in disposing of three opponents in Manchester.

Dolan said: "This is a brilliant feeling. I didn't want to go through like that but hey, I'm in the final!

"It's going to be the biggest fight of my life and I've got to make sure I get everything absolutely right for Saturday. My first two fights were pretty easy - they were over inside two rounds - and this one didn't even take one round. A few more rounds would have made me a bit sharper but I'm feeling very fresh."

The referee twice asked the doctor to tend to Evans's wounded face, and Dolan was forced on to the back foot as his opponent tried to wrap up a quick victory at the MEN Arena.

Indeed, Evans was 7-2 ahead and later claimed he was aiming to win on the 15-point rule - when a boxer that far in front is given the victory - but he was always fighting a losing battle once Dolan's stinging left jab had drawn blood.

Dolan, 22, stayed admirably cool when his more experienced rival went on the onslaught, knowing he had merely to avoid Evans's bigger shots to confirm a place in tomorrow's final.

Dolan, who boxes for Plains Farm ABC, said: "I'd heard a rumour before the fight that his nose was broken but I tried to put it out of my mind.

"I wanted to make sure it didn't unsettle me, but what did unsettle me was the stoppages to wipe the blood from his face.

"I wasn't able to get into a rhythm but the only way he was going to win was if he knocked me out.

"He started swinging and picked up a few points but I got my jab working and he kept bleeding."

Evans, who lost to Dolan on points at last year's Four Nations tournament, believes his conqueror will be taking a gold medal back to the North-East.

Evans said: "I didn't see Cadieux, but from what I'm told he's no great shakes. David is a good boy and a good fighter, and I'm backing him to win.

"Does he have a big future in the sport? Who knows. Only time will tell."

While Dolan was repeating his pre-Games vow to remain an amateur until after the 2004 Athens Olympics, Cadieux was winding down after beating Nigeria's Gozie Dijeh 33-19 on points.

Cadieux, 27, said: "I'd never seen Dolan before I got here - I only knew he was in the England team because I saw his name on a report on the Internet - but he seems good.

"He looks fast with a good technique and he looks like someone with a real will to win. But I've got a good jab and I've got a big heart. I'm a boxer rather than a fighter.

"The crowd will be behind him but that means all the pressure will be on him."