Lewis Ritson will love it if the plan comes together and he defeats arch-enemy Robbie Davies Jnr in Saturday’s WBA world title eliminator.
For those who don’t get the A-Team reference in the first line, ask someone over the age of 40!
The R-Team in this instance are ready to get down to business – Lewis Ritson, Neil Fannan, Davy Ritson, Imran Naeem and Phil Jeffries.
Saturday’s huge fight is almost exactly 12 months since he missed his chance to become the European lightweight champion with a split decision defeat to the excellent Francesco Patera.
And Lewis says the plan WILL be followed to the letter at Bad Blood even if his instinct is to take off the head of Davies at the first sound of the bell.
“There is a temptation,” laughed the Geordie. “But I think Fano will make sure that doesn’t happen and I’ll keep cool and stick to the script.
“This time last year it did not go to plan, but this time I’ll keep fully focused on the job in hand and listen to the main man.”
Watching Ritson at full tilt is some sight – who could forget the whirlwind period when he blew away Robbie Barrett, Joe Murray, Scotty Cardle and Paul Hyland to win the Lonsdale Belt at lightweight.
With a capacity crowd baying for violence against Davies, the 26-year-old admits putting tactics ahead of pure aggression is not always easy but that’s the plan. Back to that word again.
“Of course it’s hard,” said the boxer who is known as ‘the Sandman’ for a reason.
”We’re from the North-East, we are fighting men., we love to get stuck in as fighters and if a KO comes the crowd loves it.
“That was half the problem last time against Patera.
“Previously in my British title fights my opponents were falling over, but I’m fully focused on sticking to the plan.”
That is not to say that he does not expect to see fireworks at some point.
“I expect Robbie will be on the back foot, trying to spoil,” he said. “But I expect it to be a bout where Robbie is going to have to come for a fight at some point.”
Since that Patera loss, Ritson has built his career back up at light-welter and in a sport where a coach often gets the sack after a defeat, Lewis has gone the other way and moved to Hartlepool to train full-time with Fannan.
It is a partnership which has flourished.
“We’re just ready to show on Saturday what we’ve been doing in the gym,” he said.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Mark Robinson/ Matchroom
