‘The Sandman’ is back from the beach and straight back in the gym.
Lewis Ritson returned to the North-East today after a fortnight away with his two favourite girls.
And after dropping off his better half, Samantha, and daughter, Darcie, in Newcastle it was off to Hartlepool and a date with Neil Fannan to begin preparations for Bad Blood on Saturday, October 19.
While he was getting a tan in Turkey, the fight everyone wants to see, Lewis Ritson-Robbie Davies Jnr, was being made for the Utilita Arena, the Metro Radio Arena if you prefer it in ‘old money’.
The show has been dubbed ‘Bad Blood’ for a good reason – the two light-welters were involved in a spat in Liverpool earlier this month as tensions spilt over.
In an interview with Sky Sports Ritson said Davies was “full of sh*t” and in a four-letter-word exchange backstage, Robbie called Lewis a “melt”, whatever that means!
So will a war of words turn into a world war in Newcastle where there is talk of world title eliminators with both 140lb men top ten rated by the WBA.
But when punch-lines caught up with the Geordie at Fannan’s gym today he said he would not let his rival get under his skin and instead preferred to talk about out-boxing the former European champion.
“Has he got under my skin? No chance,” laughed the 25-year-old.
“Robbie’s an idiot, he’s been acting like a tit, my two-year-old daughter acts more mature.
“I’m just looking forward to getting on with the job and we’ll see who’s the best on the night, won’t we?
“I’ve heard they think all I can do is punch and I’m happy to test Robbie’s chin!
“We’ve already seen Robbie on his back and the lad who did can’t hit as hard as me.
“But I’ve a better boxing brain than people think and I’m looking forward to showing that.”
The stats would suggest that both men can hit – they have almost identical records. Both are 19-1, with Davies one ahead on the stoppage chart, with 13 to Ritson’s 12.
Davies said that the Forest Hall favourite is “nowhere near me” but the Phil Jeffries-managed fighter believes he can prove his point on the Sky Sports-screened show.
“Robbie can do and say what he wants,” Ritson told punch-lines. “I think we’ll do it.
“We’ve worked on boxing, so much that they are calling me Floyd Ritson in the gym now.
“When I first came to Neil I’d take one to land one but my old way of trying to bomb people out is gone.
“It’s coming together nicely, I think we’ll shock Robbie with the boxing.
“I think he really does believe that he’s levels above me but we don’t think that.
“I’m expecting a great fight and can’t wait for it.”
Ritson looked in decent shape for a man who has had two weeks in the sun, a few pounds heavier than the last time we saw him with his shirt off but not wearing this reporter’s belly or anything like that.
“I’ve come back half-decent,” smiled Lewis who is pictured above after his third-round stoppage win over Marek Jedrzejewski.
“I was ticking over when I was there.
“There is still eight and a half weeks left, that’s a lot of time to get ready.”
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Dave Thompson/ Matchroom
