Seven days after the greatest night of his boxing life where is ‘The Sandman’ this wet Saturday?
Florida? Mexico? The Maldives?
No. He’s not even at the 02 for the best seat in the house for the World Boxing Super Series light-welterweight Ali Trophy Final between Regis Prograis and Josh Taylor.
Lewis is in Butlins with the two girls in his life, his better half, Samantha, and their daughter, Darcie. He wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Eddie Hearn wanted me in London to shout out the winner of the Taylor-Prograis fight,” laughed the 25-year-old. “But that’s not really me, is it?”
Indeed it isn’t. There are not many more laid-back characters than the amiable Geordie, amiable apart from those minutes inside the ring.
Seven days after beating Robbie Davies Jnr in their WBA world title eliminator, it’s family not fight time for Lewis, despite talk of riches from a summer showdown with Taylor at St James’s Park.
David Diamante had barely finished the final words of the result announcement when Hearn was talking about a super fight at Newcastle United’s stadium next summer.
The size of the task would be huge, but so too would the pay cheque and the opportunity to make history with a mega fight at the Toon’s cathedral.
“Eddie talks up about a fight with Josh Taylor? But I’m not daft,” Ritson told punch-lines.
“Taylor is going to beat me nine and three-quarter times out of 10!
“He is very special.
“But the sort of money that’s being talked about me and Fano would train as hard as we can go in there and go out on our shields.
“St James’s Park? Pay-per-view with 30 to 40,000 fans there?
“It would be a bit of history and I’d take that.”
As stated previously in punch-lines, there is plenty that has to happen before England face Scotland on Tyneside, the ‘Tartan Tornado’ must first see off Prograis in London in the battle of the undefeated light-welters for starters.
But it’s an amazing thought even if it’s one that must wait. It’s Butlins first for Team Ritson.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Jennifer Charlton
