Haway the lads! It’s on and it’s going to be big … and noisy.
Lewis Ritson, at last, is going to fight in front of his army of fans again after Eddie Hearn announced the Sandman’s final IBF world light-welterweight championship eliminator with Jeremias Ponce is ON in Newcastle on Saturday, June 12.
It is 13 months since Matchroom had planned to be at the Utilita Arena for Ritson’s big match with former world champion Miguel Vazquez.
Regretably, the Coronanviris pandemic meant the event went the journey and eventually went to Peterborough behind closed doors in October, when the popular Geordie won a split, and strongly-debated, decision over the lively Mexican.
This highly-anticipated match with the unbeaten South American will not be fought on in silence, fans will be inside the venue though, sadly, in reduced numbers at the Vertu Motors Arena, best known as the Eagles Community Arena.
Ritson v Ponce looks a belting headline act for what is set to be Matchroom’s final show on Sky Sports.
The aggressive Argentinian is ranked five by the International Boxing Federation, just one place above the Phil Jeffries-managed crowd favourite, with the 24-year-old in possession of a perfect 27-bout record, 17 of the victories coming early.
“It was a strange experience behind closed doors last time so I’m thrilled fans will be returning, it’s always loud in Newcastle and I’m proud to have them behind me cheering me on,” said Ritson.
“Ponce likes to come forward, throw a few good body shots and he’s got a decent jab. We’re expecting and have prepared for a tough fight and it should be given what’s at stake.
“I’m one or two fights away from being world champion now, that’s the dream for any boxer and to be in touching distance now is spurring me on with this final eliminator locked in.”
Ritson has won 20 of his 21 contests, with four victories on the spin since his move from lightweight to light-welter, including his 12-round thriller with arch-rivals Robbie Davies in his last appearance at the Utilita Arena, back in October 2019.
“This is a huge fight for Lewis Ritson, he is one fight away from a shot at the undisputed championship,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. “We should be having the full 9,000 in Newcastle but right now 1,000 is going to feel like a full house and I can’t wait to see the fans again in Newcastle – I expect this main event to be a war.”
A limited number of tickets will be made available for this event and further details will be released on Thursday May 27.
There was no word on the undercard though the promoter had already stated that unbeaten Wallsend star April Hunter will be part of the show while undefeated world-rated super-bantamweight turned featherweight Tommy Ward could also be in action as he looks to establish himself among the planet’s elite at 126lbs.
Ritson’s Forest Hall stablemate, Terence Wilkinson, is also likely to be on the starting line, along with fellow Geordie, Joe Laws, who is looking to bounce back from his first career defeat, to Rylan Charlton at the East of England Arena in October.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Mark Robinson/ Matchroom
