Lewis Ritson can’t wait to get back to being ‘The Sandman’.
But this time he’s “doing things properly” and that could spell bad news for Germain Argentino Benitez – his opponent for the vacant WBA inter-continental light-welterweight belt this Saturday.
The hard-hitting Geordie had rattled off four exciting British lightweight title victories in double-quick time and he was the talk of the Toon … and beyond.
Such was the way he was disposing of top-ranked opposition the dreams of a huge stadium fight at his beloved St James’s Park looked like they could become a reality.
Then came Francesco Patera. The quietly-spoken Belgian came to Newcastle and did what no-one else could do and take him the distance, lifting the vacant European lightweight title on a split decision at the Metro Radio Arena.
Five months on from that first career defeat, Ritson is back and back having learned a painful lesson, back too having had something of a regime change, a full-time switch to Hartlepool to train under Neil Fannan.
“If I’d listened and followed my team’s instructions, I’d have won that fight, no problem,” the 25-year-old told punch-lines.
“But losing to Patera proved I could not cut corners and do things how I wanted them done.
“I genuinely believe that defeat will be a blessing in disguise.
“If I’d have won or taken it on a split probably nothing would have changed.
“If I’m being honest I’ve probably not made the weight right since the Scott Cardle fight, I’d been knocking lads out so I just keep doing it as I had been.
“We sat down and we talked through what I’d been doing and hadn’t being doing and Neil just said ‘I’m making this decision very clear, you are coming to Hartlepool to train’.
“I’ve been here ever since and now I know what it’s like to train as a fighter, rather than just doing it my way.
“I’m 100 per cent with what Neil says.”
Ritson began his professional life with the renowned Billy Nelson in Scotland, winning his first nine fights, before returning home to train under his dad and inspiration, Davy, at the Forest Hall Gym, and under the management of Phil Jeffries.
Fannan joined the corner for the British title win over Robbie Barrett and the first-round demolition of Joe Murray and it was not long before he was splitting his time between Forest Hall and Hartlepool.
“When we first asked him to come on board I was coming down here a couple of days a week,” said Ritson, who is pictured above with Fannan.
“Neil was impressed how I was flying doing 12 round on the pads but then I should be because I was almost having the other days off.
“I’d be here Monday, Wednesday, Friday but because I thought I was doing all the hard work at Fanno’s that I’d not be putting it in on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday, no running, not eating properly, etc.
“Fanno was straight with me and told me ‘this is the way things are going to be now, if you don’t want to do it, stay at home’.
“I’ve been here ever since and I feel brilliant.”
Ritson-Benitez is just one part of a packed title affair at the Copper Box Arena in London’s Olympic Park.
Charlie Edwards makes the maiden defence of his WBC flyweight belt against Angel Moreno while there are two domestic squabbles – Joshua Buatsi v Liam Conroy and Lawrence Okolie v Wadi Camacho.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Simon Stacpole/ Matchroom
