Lewis Ritson might unleash some fearsome damage with his two fists.
But Britain’s lightweight champion told punch-lines how having the best team around him makes him the fighter he is, ahead of Saturday night’s British lightweight title defence against unbeaten Paul Hyland Jnr in Newcastle.
His manager is the irrepressible Sunderland fight figure Phil Jeffries, while he is coached by Hartlepool trainer, Neil Fannan, alongside dad, Davy, while Stockton’s Imran Naeem takes full care of those weapons by bandaging his hands.
A ‘Mackem’, a ‘Monkey Hanger’ and a ‘Smoggie’ plus those two likeable Geordies adds up to the Fantastic Five.
“I love the team I have around me,” said Lewis on the eve of the clash at the Metro Radio Arena. “When I came back from Scotland I was happy signing for Jaffa, everything he’s promised me he’s delivered.
“Fanno came on board for the Barrett fight and was in the corner for that.
“After that me and my dad started to go down to his gym every week.
“I train in Hartlepool three times a week, so I think Neil and my dad have 50/50 ownership of me!
“Me and my dad are not stupid, we knew we needed something else.
“I’ve said it before but Neil’s the real deal to me, there are some good coaches out there but Fanno is the best of all of them.”
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Watch Ritson in the gym and you can see new elements brought in by the man who guided Michael Hunter to British, Commonwealth and European glory.
But the Forest Hall fighter still possesses that incredible power which has blown away the last three opponents he has met in British championship action.
Viewing the public work-out at the Metro Centre in midweek , the ‘Sandman’ cut a very relaxed figure.
It was interesting to note how, unlike all the others in the two-hour exhibition, Ritson let his shots go.
A deliberate show of intent with challenger Hyland looking on or Lewis being Lewis? Probably the latter, but he says he’ll do the fighting and leave the rest to his two coaches/ dads.
“I don’t watch my opponents, I’ve not watched Paul, I leave that to Neil and my dad,” he said. “They watch my opponents and they come up with the game-plan.
“It’s worked well so far so that’s what I’ll stick to.”
One thing for sure is that Hyland will not fall into the trap the two previous challengers have made by ‘going’ for Ritson from the first bell.
“I don’t think so, but you never know!” smiled Lewis, pictured left at the weigh-in at the Metro Centre today. “I’ve not really seen much from Paul in the build-up about how he might box.
“Neil will come up with the game-plan and if we need to change it, we will.”
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Jennifer Charlton
