Don’t expect me to blow Francesco Patera away in the blink of an eye.
That was the warning today from a pragmatic Lewis Ritson on the eve of Saturday night’s European title shoot-out with the Belgian at the Metro Radio Arena.
Ritson has made something of a rod for his own back by destroying challenger after challenger in three British title defences you’d have missed if you were slow taking your seat.
The Newcastle hero felled unbeaten Paul Hyland Jnr three times in a first-round demolition on his Home Toon debut back in June and the thousands thrilled by that triumph will, automatically, be expecting more of the same.
While Patera has lost, three times, he has never failed to hear the final bell.
“You just have to look at who Patera has fought, who he has beaten,” Ritson told punch-lines. “This is not straight forward, it’s going to be a tough fight on Saturday night.
“We have trained just as we do for every other bout, we always train for 12 rounds.
“Sparring has been better for this fight but, other than that, we’ve done the same job as we always do.
“All the boxes have been ticked, I know we’re ready for Saturday night.”
‘The Sandman’ is not saying he won’t stop him, just warning the fans that it may not happen.
Patera, a former European champion who has been 10 or 12 rounds on five occasions, comes across as a cool customer, in fact almost as laid back as his opponent.
The 25-year-old, from Genk, told punch-lines he would box smart and would not get dragged into a tear-up but Ritson is not sure whether there was an element of smokescreen and he will, in fact, come and attack.
“He seems a calm character but so was Hyland, until he got hit,” said the Phil Jeffries-managed assassin.
“We’ll see how cool and calm he is on Saturday night after he has been hit.
“I read what he said about boxing with his brain, does that mean he’s going to box on the back foot and try to nick the rounds? I could be wrong and he could come and have a bit of a go. We’ll have to wait and see.”
The weigh-in takes place at 1pm outside House of Fraser at the Metro Centre. Fans are welcome.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Mark Robinson/ Matchroom
