Miguel Vazquez insists he will not be dictated to by Lewis Ritson in the main event at Peterborough.
The long-running former world champion is in the away corner to face the Geordie favourite over 12 rounds for the WBA Inter-continental light-welterweight belt.
Ritson is a huge favourite with the bookies at 1-10 with very generous odds of 5-1 for his 33-year-old opponent, who ran Ohara Davies very close at the York Hall last year.
Vazquez is not a typical up-and-at-‘em Mexican, he’s a man who went to Cuba and “learned the real art of boxing and that is hit and don’t get hit. I love it.”
A number of Ritson rivals have opted to trade with the ‘Sandman’ but Vazquez will be doing it his way tonight.
“I’ve seen various fights of Lewis and I’ve seen how he likes to put pressure on his opponents by getting on the front foot and not giving them any space to perform with the style of boxing they want to produce,” he told punch-lines.
“My aim will be to impose my style on him and stop him from boxing his way.”
Vazquez is very respectful of the Neil Fannan-trained fighter who boasts 20 wins (12 inside the distance) with only one defeat.
“I know from looking at him that he is well prepared,” says the 42-9 fighter from Guadalajara, who will have his missus in his corner at the East of England Arena.
“Lewis’s looking good, but I am also in good shape and have worked really hard, it will be a difficult fight for both of us.
“I’m up against a really tough fighter in Lewis Ritson.
“It is a great opportunity for me. It is a really big fight for me and it’s not going to be an easy one at all, which is why I have been preparing as hard as I possibly can for this.”
Vazquez has had a long time to prepare and think (as have all parties) for this fight on the Matchroom card which had been first set for Newcastle on April 4.
So how hard has it been to prepare for this attractive match-up?
“It has been difficult,” he admitted. “But the time out has given me the chance to work on technique and fine tune that for this fight.
“There was a point when I didn’t think it would happen, but when I got the call to say it was on it made me train even harder.”
Vazquez, even though he’s a few years into his fourth decade, still harbours world title hopes and one more ambition.
“I don’t just want to win the fight for me but to win over the English public,” he said. “Winning here against Lewis would help me do that.”
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Mark Robinson/ Matchroom
