Joe Murray is going to “have to be something special” to remove Lewis Ritson as British champion.
So says the man who knows the lightweight king best – trainer AND dad.
Ritson v Murray tops the bill at Manchester’s Victoria Warehouse on Sunday when Matchroom stage their first JD NXTGEN event of 2018.
It looks, certainly on paper, a corker of a match, the unbeaten champ putting the famous belt on the line against the hometown man who has lost only twice in 27 outings, both to Liam Walsh.
However, the title holder’s coach is confident there will only be one outcome.
Davey Ritson told punch-lines: “We don’t under-estimate any opponent and we respect all of them and we respect Joe.
“But he’s going to have to be something special to take the title from Lewis.”
Ritson Snr believes Murray, for all his talent, will try to spoil on the Sky Sports-screened showdown.
“Joe Murray has lost to only one man and has an impeccable amateur background,” he said while sat with a cuppa at his Forest Hall HQ in Newcastle.
“I’ve been watching his last four or five fights over the last month.
“He can be heavy-handed … if you let him.
“We’re not really scared of Joe Murray, I don’t know what he can bring to the table to dislodge Lewis.
“He’s a bit unorthodox and he can fight dirty. I think he’ll try to tie up Lewis, frustrate him.
“In Lewis’s younger days it was possible to do that, but not any more.”
Ritson has brought glory to Newcastle, a city starved of boxing success for way too long.
But his dad says that British title glory, achieved with a superb victory over Robbie Barrett last October, will not change his boy.
“Lewis is a bit of a silent assassin,” said Davey. “He’s not on social media saying this and that.
“We’ve a strong club with 100 members and here he is just one of the lads.
“Being British champion will not change him, he is a boxer who just wants to go as far as he can and he is prepared to put in all the hard work.”
Sunday’s show features undefeated former world bronze medallist, Natasha Jonas, plus a featherweight clash between Jordan Gill and Jason Cunningham.
For tickets, go to www.matchroomboxing.com/fight-nights/lewis-ritson-vs-joe-murray
Words: Roy Kelly
