Scotty Cardle says he is comfortable at being classed the underdog in his bid to regain the British lightweight title from Lewis Ritson but plans to expose “the flaws” in the champion.
Matchroom stage an intriguing battle between the old master and the new talent at the O2 on Saturday night on the undercard of Dillian White’s WBC Silver heavyweight title confrontation with Lucas Browne.
Cardle won the lightweight belt in May 2015 only to surrender it in April 2017 in Glasgow, where Robbie Barrett shocked the previously-unbeaten Lytham man.
Barrett went on to surrender the title himself to Ritson last October in a seventh round stoppage with the Newcastle fighter hammering Joe Murray into a first-round defeat in his first defence last.
“It means a lot to win the belt back,” said Cardle. “Being honest, when I lost it against Barrett it was as if I was a little bit fed up with it. Maybe I was going through the motions a bit?
“My preparations were terrible for that fight, I know where I went wrong. I didn’t show up so for that reason alone I want to redeem myself in a way and get back what I feelbelongs to me.”
The Joe Gallagher-trained fighter added: “You can’t take nothing away from Ritson’s recent performances.
“He’s dealt with both kids in great fashion.
“It’s a new thing for me to be the unde
rdog. I’m usually good with pressure. I feel like my backs against the wall in this fight, I have to make a statement. I’m putting pressure on myself but there’s also big pressure on Ritson to keep up with appearances. I’m going in there knowing what job I have to do.”
Cardle watched Ritson’s destruction of Murray from ringside in Manchester and insists there are areas of the Forest Hall fighter’s game he can expose.
“Every fighter has flaws,” said the 28-year-old. “Even that minute and a half with Murray I could see little things, openings to his defence.
“There are things I can attack. I’ve got to keep my head and be smart. I’ve got the experience on him and should have the boxing intelligence behind me to deal with this situation. His flaws will be exposed.”
The fight will be shown live on Sky Sports.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Lawrence Lustig/ Matchroom
