Lewis Ritson will not box again until 2019, but must have a good think about his future during his break.
The Newcastle fighter, beaten for the first time in his career at the weekend, will enjoy a well-deserved breather following six fights in a breathless and spectacular 13-month period.
A rest was on the cards anyway, whatever the result in the Metro Radio Arena on Saturday night, but promoter Eddie Hearn says the 25-year-old has things to ponder, primarily whether it is time to move up to light-welterweight.
Ritson lost his tilt for the vacant European lightweight championship on a split decision to Francesco Patera, the Belgian putting in a masterful performance to win 116-112 (twice), 112-116.
Having won his four British title contests in the last year inside 12 rounds, plus a three-round non-title success in Birmingham, the odds were firmly on ‘The Sandman’ only to come unstuck against a very good opponent in Newcastle.
“Some might say after something like that ‘this isn’t for me’ and others will say ‘bloody hell, I’m going to make myself so much better’,” Hearn told punch-lines.
“It’s been a huge learning curve.
“No-one wants to lose, especially the momentum we’d built here, but that’s boxing, it’s life. He wasn’t good enough on the night, that’s the reality of sport isn’t it?
“He’s got to make big decisions. Can he still make lightweight?
“I’m not there in camp with him, but the last two [championship] fights he’s weighed-in in his towel.
“He’s said he was a bit tired in camp. Maybe they shouldn’t have had the September fight [against Oscar Amador in Birmingham] but they wanted it to get the rounds under the belt to prepare for these kind of fights.
“He’s done now until after Christmas so he’s going to have to think about what he’s doing.
“He’s still British champion so he can defend that.
“But he’s got to come back with something, he didn’t have the zip in his work.
“Patera’s very clever, but Lewis didn’t seem to have the strength he normally has.
“That’s usually a sign of two things, weight-making and tiredness.
“It’s disappointing but the reality of sport is that he wasn’t good enough on the night.
“What do you do? You improve and the go again.”
Even though the three judges had four-round margins, this was a close-run contest, with a candid Hearn admitting he was pleased Patera was announced the winner so there would be no accusations of a ‘hometown decision’.
“Lewis lost his jab after three rounds, he didn’t move his head,” said the Matchroom Boxing chief.
“Arrogance is not the right word with Lewis, but he presumes he’s just going to walk people down and stop them but when you move up the levels you will fight someone who is clever, has good feet and will out-fox you and out-box you.
“Patera couldn’t have boxed any better. I’ve said to Lewis ‘you have lost to a very good European champion who boxed the absolute fight of his life, and you only lost by one or two rounds’.
“He’s devastated, it was a lot of pressure, he had the expectations of the whole of the North-East on his shoulders.
“It was a really good fight and I think most people would say he didn’t really win it. In a way I’m glad he didn’t get the verdict because it’s then [people say] ‘it’s a hometown decision’.”
Words: Roy Kelly Pictures: Jennifer Charlton
