Lewis Ritson has predicted three North-East boxers will be crowned as world champions – and he intends to be one of them.
The Newcastle hero made the declaration as Eddie Hearn launched his Utilita Arena show which will be headlined by Ritson v Miguel Vazquez on Saturday, April 4.
Last time out, Ritson wowed the packed Newcastle venue and the Sky Sports audience with a performance of a lifetime to defeat Robbie Davies Jnr in a WBA world light-welterweight title eliminator.
And Hearn has produced another corker by bringing over the excellent Vasquez for a mouthwatering top-of-the-bill contest.
On the same bill, Hartlepool’s unbeaten star Savannah Marshall will challenge Geovana Peres for the Kiwi’s WBO light-heavyweight world title, while Ritson’s Neil Fannan team-mate, the gifted and undefeated Co Durham super-bantam Tommy Ward, will fight for the WBO inter-continental belt.
“This will be a very hard fight for me,” explained Ritson. “But I feel if I get through this we will have three World Champions in the North-East in me, Tommy and Savannah.
“Vazquez can do a bit of everything and he’s proved that as a world champion.
“He was a champion for a long time but I know Fanno will put together a solid game-plan and we will come away with the win.
“This is the sort of fight that I need for the experience to get to that next level.
“I showed that against Robbie Davies and I will show this again and bring back some big nights to the North-East.”
A mammoth crowd will be expected inside the Utilita Arena which Ritson proudly believes generates “the best atmosphere in the country”.
And ‘The Sandman’ says that will help him defeat the former world champion and move him towards a major shot of his own.
“I will be very tough to beat in the arena and Vazquez will feel like he is fighting two people in there with the noise levels,” said the Phil Jeffries-managed 26-year-old pictured left with Vazquez and Hearn.
“It’s a great time for the [light-welterweight] division and I’m confident that, outside the top two, I am more than capable of beating any of them.
“I’ll get Vazquez out of the way and then I want that world title shot.”
There will be an English heavyweight title showdown at the event with Middlesbrough’s Simon Vallily taking on Dillian White prodigy Fabio Wardley, while there will be appearances from unbeaten Geordies Joe Laws and April Hunter.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Jennifer Charlton
