Underdog Francesco Patera is barking up the wrong tree if he thinks avoiding Lewis Ritson’s early bombs will be the key to victory in Newcastle.
So says coach Neil Fannan on the eve of the Geordie star’s biggest night of his career.
The two top-ranked 25-year-olds do battle for the vacant European lightweight title at an almost-sold-out Metro Radio Arena.
Parera has watched, and winced, as British challenger after British challenger have been destroyed by Ritson’s explosive power early on.
The Belgian plans to take him all the way to the 12 rounds and out-box Forest Hall’s favourite son.
Ritson has not only never been the championship distance, if you add all four British championship fights together it does not total a dozen rounds.
“Lewis hits harder as the rounds go on,” declared Fannan. “That is no brag or bluff, that’s the truth.
“If people want to know what Lewis will be like the longer a fight goes, I’ll tell them, he’ll be more dangerous, not less.”
It took Ritson into the seventh round to stop a very game champion, Robbie Barrett, in Manchester 12 months ago. Since then, Joe Murray, Scotty Cardle and Paul Hyland Jnr have tried to fight fire with fire and been burned.
Hyland, unbeaten and never been down, visited the canvas three times in 60 seconds until Steve Gray called it off just before the bell to end the opening round.
Patera has also never been down and Fannan has respect for the man who won in Edid Tatli’s homeland to become European champion last year, only to return to Finland and lose the re-match.
Fannan told punch-lines: “Patera is not fazed about coming here, he’s fought at the highest level.
“But he’s never fought Lewis Ritson before.”
Those who know Fannan know he’s not a man for outlandish talk or predictions, he tells it as he is and had a statement that will surprise many, given the record of ‘The Sandman’ of 17 straight wins with 11 by stoppage.
“Lewis is not a real big banger,” said the Hartlepool coach. “His secret is he never misses.
“He’s probably not a massive concussive puncher, but he hits you clean and hard three or four times.”
Will Patera be able to withstand the barrage when that comes? It could be a fascinating duel.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Jennifer Charlton
