Cyrus Pattinson might be just months away from the biggest fight of his life against Lewis Ritson – but only Conah Walker is on his mind.
It seems to have been an open secret for some time that the gifted Alnwick southpaw was being lined up to take on ‘The Sandman’ in a huge North-East derby.
Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed it today, but Pattinson’s focus is solely on Walker, who is the opponent for the maiden defence of his WBA International welterweight title in Birmingham on Saturday night.
The unbeaten Matchroom star did not even mention his fellow Northumberland man’s name, let alone discuss the fight.
“I’m not interested in any other fight, except the one on Saturday night,” said the 29-year-old.
“This fight is the pinnacle of my career so far and it’s the only thing that matters.”
Walker, the challenger from Wolverhampton, told the defending champion that this Wolves v Newcastle clash will be a “banana skin” that the favourite will come a cropper on.
“I’m here to fight,” vowed the 28-year-old. “I’m going to get out there and have a ding-dong.
“Talk about the Ritson fight? Cancel it, I’m taking the belt home to Wolverhampton.”
Walker brings an impressive record of 11-2-1 to the Utilita Arena, with three of his wins coming early. He is a former Midlands Area champion and lost a close challenge on points for the English title with Londoner Samuel Antwi.
Pattinson (pictured left), showing typically-great sartorial elegance, stressed at the Matchroom media event in Birmingham that he has trained as intensely for this as though he was the challenger.
He took the belt back in March on home soil in Newcastle, where beat Chris Jenkins in a fight of the year contender, with the Welshman stopped in the ninth after the towel came in.
Pattinson was simply irresistible that night, taking a no-holds-barred approach, and many anticipate a similar evening on Saturday, though it has to be said there are more strings to his bow.
“That was always the game-plan for the Jenkins fight,” said the Graeme Rutherford-trained welterweight. “I’ll bring the same energy as Conah, it will be a great fight.
“I know Conah is a dangerous come-forward fighter – he is fit, he’s strong, intelligent.
“I have complete respect for him, I know what he’ll bring, and I’m prepared to meet him.”
Talk of Ritson v Pattinson has been growing for some time and it looks a domestic blockbuster.
Cyrus has accumulated six wins, four early, while Lewis’s fight log is an excellent 23-3 with his only defeats coming in two world title eliminators and a European championship challenge.
Last time out, he was stopped by Ohara Davies in their WBA world light-welterweight eliminator in March in Newcastle, where the crowd was, sadly, sparse, despite the quality of the matches and the show.
There will be no such issues where Hearn and Matchroom are concerned and the event will grip the North-East.
Hearn admitted it was “no secret” after it leaked out on social media, saying: ”We’ve not announced anything, but the plan is to fight Lewis Ritson in Newcastle in November.”
It’s some plan, but Pattinson won’t listen to it until he has dealt with Walker.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Mark Robinson/ Matchroom
