Sore heads in the morning.
That is the prediction from Lewis Ritson ahead of his WBA Inter-Continental title defence with Joe Hughes in Liverpool on Friday, August 2.
It is, potentially, THE fight of the JD NXTGEN event as two of Britain’s best 10 stone men go head to head with, seemingly, a confrontation with one of Merseyside’s finest boxing sons, Robbie Davies Jnr, to come later in the year.
If Ritson v Hughes sounds good to us on the safe side of the ropes it’s heaven to ‘The Sandman’ who has not fought since outpointing a tough Argentinian in London back in March.
The 25-year-old Phil Jeffries-managed star had been scheduled to box on the bumper Manchester Arena bill in July, only for Matchroom to scrap the event, but it’s a case of all’s well that ends well.
“We’re in for a very tough fight,” Newcastle hero Ritson told punch-lines.
“I had a few names for the July 6 show but that ended up being cancelled.
“There was talk I’d box Robbie Davies but he pulled out and I got Joe Hughes, so the next best thing really.
“It’s funny, Matchroom had said we were getting the winner of Davies and Hughes and I think that’s what we’ve got.
“It’s a shame I’m not going to be fighting for the European title but it’s a great fight.
“Look at Joe’s record, he’s only been beaten by very good lads and when he won the European title he went over to Italy to do it..
“Joe Hughes ands me are very similar fighters and it’s going to be an interesting fight.
“I think we won’t need to go looking for each other and I’m expecting both of us will be waking up with sore heads on the Saturday morning!”
Hughes, as Ritson has alluded to, is very very good.
The 28-year-old, from Wiltshire, went to Italy last year, when he defeated Andrea Scarpa for the European strap only to lose out to Davies in a unification battle at the Echo Arena in March.
His record is not a million miles away from that of the Forest Hall favourite, Joe’s log standing at 17-4-1 (7), Lewis at 18-1 (11).
“It’s a tough fight and I think if you look at the card it’s the hardest fight of the night,” said the ex-British lightweight champ, now trained in Hartlepool by Neil Fannan.
Ritson could well be right.
But there are other attractions. Anthony Fowler will headline his first ever show in his hometown at the Exhibition Centre against Blackpool’s ex-world title challenger Brian Rose.
Watch out too for Sunderland’s former Commonwealth flyweight champion, Thomas Essomba, who could provide a test at bantamweight against unbeaten Sean McGoldrick.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Tom Collins/ Hartlepool Life
