Behind closed doors. Three words which strike dread into any boxing promoter or fighter fuelled by a high-octane atmosphere.
Lewis Ritson had been preparing for another Newcastle blockbuster when the corona virus pandemic caused the postponement of the April 4 event headlined by his confrontation with former world champion Miguel Vazquez.
With Matchroom’s June 27 re-scheduled Saturday also a non-starter, ‘The Sandman’ has spoken of the prospect of performing again, but this time in front of no supporters.
Like Josh Warrington in Leeds, Carl Frampton in Belfast, Ant Crolla in Manchester, Ritson has a whole city firmly behind him evidenced by the fact over three quarters of the Utilita Arena had been sold out a month ahead of the original Vazquez date.
Eddie Hearn hopes it will be third time lucky after announcing Matchroom plan to stage it on Saturday, October 17, but the promoter will be back on Sky soon with a series of shows without spectators.
Ritson loves his home Toon crowd as much as they worship him, so does the 26-year-old class the BCD solution as a necessary evil?
“It is I’m afraid,” said the Geordie.
“There is no better feeling than walking to the ring and hearing the fans chanting ‘Toon, Toon, black and white army’.
“The atmosphere I’ve experienced in the Arena has been amazing.
“But I’ve not been paid since October and my little girl is asking for this and that!
“It’s over seven months since the Robbie Davies fight and while I was excited to fight Miguel Vazquez in front of these great fans that can’t happen at the moment.
“If my next fight has to be behind closed doors then that is where it’s going to have to be.
“Those fans will still be able to watch me – they will have the best seat in the house and won’t have to queue up for their drinks.
“I’ll be ready for a fight when a date comes.”
If there was a photo-fit image of an ideal behind-closed-door attraction it would be the aggressive Geordie.
Having come to the nation’s attention by winning a Lonsdale Belt at lightweight in a mere 11 rounds by blowing away Robbie Barrett, Joe Murray, Scott Cardle and Paul Hyland Jnr, he marked the anniversary of his move up to super-lightweight with a superb points verdict over arch-rival Davies.
“I was very excited to fight Vazquez,” said the Phil Jeffries-managed star.
“He was a long-time world champion and still fringe world level.
“I saw some criticism when the bout was announced but I’d argue that Miguel Vazquez is a bigger name than Robbie Davies and a boxer with more strings to his bow than Robbie.
“I think he’d have shown things that we could have taken from that fight.
“I’d still like the fight to happen.”
It would be fair to say we all can’t wait.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Tom Collins/ Hartlepool Life
