Lewis Ritson loves thrilling his adoring Geordie fans, but there is one he thing he’d love more than anything – simply to fight again.
‘The Sandman’ gets that chance on October 17 when he fights highly respected former world king Miguel Vazquez over 10 rounds.
It is hard to believe that it will be his first contest in 12 months since beating arch-rival Robbie Davies Jnr in their WBA world title eliminator at the Utilita Arena last October.
The Coronavirus pandemic, of course, has become boxing, sport and life’s major opponent in 2020 and Ritson-Vazquez has been postponed twice, with Matchroom’s April 4 and June 27 dates both falling through.
October 17 is ON, but where is another matter.
The government had planned to allow spectators into sporting events from next month, leading to hopes of a crowd at the Utilita Arena, though there will be a question mark over that in the current climate.
For Ritson, confirmation his WBA inter-continental light-welterweight title defence is on is great news.
“The atmosphere is always bouncing in there and a lot of tickets have been sold for this – not one person has asked for a refund,” he told punch-lines.
“It would be great to have a crowd in there.
“But it’s getting on for a year since I last boxed and I need to fight, crowd or no crowd. I want to get back to work and earn some money.
“Luckily, I’m sensible with my money so I’m not in a desperate position but I really do want to fight again.”
Who can blame the 26-year-old for champing at the bit to get in with the excellent Mexican?
That victory over Davies catapulted him up the WBA rankings and very much in the mix for the very big fights, should the world return to some sort of normality and should he not come a cropper against Vazquez.
Ritson is braced for a Titanic battle with the 33-year-old from Guadalajara.
Vazquez’s record of 42 wins and only nine defeats does not begin to tell the whole story.
He spent four years as world champion and anyone doubting his hunger in the twilight of his career only needs to be pointed towards his match with Ohara Davies last year at the York Hall, where he was unhappy not to get the decision.
“We were talking to the trainer of a boxer who was in the Vasquez dressing room the right he lost to O’Hara and he told us he was going berserk when he didn’t get the decision,” said the Neil Fannan-trained star.
“Apparently he’d put a lot of money on himself that night. “He’ll be getting good odds here as well I’m sure he’ll be putting money on himself again, so he’ll be coming to win.”
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Mark Robinson/ Matchroom
