Boxing for the ownership of the Lonsdale Belt and in front of thousands of North-East fans. Going to be stressful, isn’t it?
Not to Lewis Ritson who makes the third defence of the British lightweight title in his home Toon this Saturday.
Ritson has a tough hurdle to clear in the shape of fellow unbeaten 10-stone man, Paul Hyland Jnr at the Metro Radio Arena, where Eddie Hearn promotes for the first time in three years.
On the face of it, you would expect the champion to feel a certain amount of nerves give he is the co-headline act? Surely?
But the 24-year-old, managed by Phil Jeffries, and coached by dad, Davy, in Forest Hall, and Neil Fannan in Hartlepool, is as relaxed as ever
“That is the case, I don’t feel any pressure at all,” said the Matchroom assassin.
“The weight has come down nicely, I feel as fit as a fiddle and I’m ready for Saturday.
“I’m always laid back, Jaffa always says ‘blow on Lewis Ritson and he’ll fall over’.
“What’s the use of being stressed?
“What happens on the night will happen, there’s no point in worrying about it. “It’s a good fight and if Hyland beats me then there will be no excuses from our side that ‘I’m not fit enough’ or ‘the weight’s killed us’ or anything like that.
“If it doesn’t go my way, I’ll have lost to a better man and I’ll shake his hand.”
Not that Ritson plans on losing but when you meet the hard-hitting Geordie it’s a case of what you see is what you get.
And he is relishing boxing in front of a big crowd at the Metro Radio Arena which has hosted greats like Nigel Benn, Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton and Anthony Joshua to name just four.
“It’s nice to be boxing at home and in such a fantastic venue, it doesn’t seem like five minutes since we were doing the small halls,” said Lewis.
“My dad has sold 1,100 tickets and people are still asking for more.”
There should be a big crowd, given Hearn has assembled an incredible cast list with FIVE championship contests, all featuring North-East boxers.
Josh Kelly, recently crowned WBA International welterweight champ, will defend that belt while also trying to win Australia’s Kris George’s Commonwealth belt.
Elsewhere, Darlington’s Stuart Hall faces Gavin McDonnell (WBC International super-bantamweight champ) and Middlesbrough’s Simon Vallily challenges Arfan Iqbal for the Derby man’s English cruiserweight title.
Words: Roy Kelly Pictures: Ian Horrocks/ Matchroom
