Lewis Ritson’s coach has sent a warning to Paul Hyland Jnr and his camp not to expect the British lightweight champion being a soft and tired target late in the fight.
Neil Fannan says the Irish team will be making a major error if they are banking on a late stoppage or points win at the Metro Radio Arena.
Ritson makes the third defence of his title in his home town of Newcastle, where he will start as clear favourite, even though Hyland is the mandatory challenger and has three more wins than ‘The Sandman’.
Having won the Lonsdale Belt in seven rounds against Robbie Barrett last October, Ritson has gone into overdrive in his two defences to date, hammering Joe Murray inside one round and Scotty Cardle in only two.
Those two boxers have played straight into the powerful hands of the Geordie and Fannan does not expect Hyland to make the same fatal error.
“I don’t think they’ll try to get him out of there early,” the Hartlepool trainer told punch-lines.
“I think they’ll look at the three British title fights, they’ve gone seven, one and two rounds.
“I’m sure they’ll be thinking to themselves ‘let’s get him into the second half and see what he’s made of’.
“People who know me know I’m not one to shout my mouth off but if anyone thinks they can wear Lewis out they are barking up the wrong tree.
“I am confident he’ll get even better and stronger as the bout goes on.”
The 24-year-old is on a run of SIX straight stoppage victories since he returned to the North-East, having spent the first part of his career in Scotland with Billy Nelson.
Fannan has shared the coaching duties with Lewis’s dad, Davy, and the two trainers have got the Forest Hall favourite in terrific shape and looking extremely sharp.
And Fannan added further advice to anyone believing Lewis is simply a KO king.
“Lewis is a lot more skilful than people have him down for,” said the coach, pictured above with Ritson at the public work-out at the Metro Centre.
“People think he’s just a get-stuck-in merchant but he has a lot more finesse than he’s given credit for.”
Words: Roy Kelly Pictures: Jennifer Charlton
