A war and a victory. That is all that is in Lewis Ritson’s mind ahead of what he admits is a “must-win” fight against Conah Walker in Birmingham.
The two British welterweights who love to fight collide in Birmingham on Saturday, November 30, when Matchroom headline with another domestic duel between Sunny Edwards and Galal Yafai.
Ritson v Walker, or Walker v Ritson if you prefer, has the makings of a 10-round barnstormer.
Defeat could spell the end of ‘The Sandman’, not that he is contemplating losing to the Wolverhampton man at the Resorts World Arena in England’s Second City.
“Would it be the end if I lost? Probably, but I’m not looking at it that way because I don’t think I will get beaten,” he explained.
“I’m confident I can win.”
The confidence is not a put-on
Ritson cut a very relaxed figure when punch-lines caught up with him and his trainer, dad Davy, at their famous Forest Hall HQ.
There was plenty of laughing and joking from the former British lightweight champion though he knows the business will be serious when Saturday comes.
“It is about trying to kick-start again,” said the 31-year-old. “This is the right opponent with the right style.
“If we are losing to Conah it is a question of where do we go from here?
“So it really is a must-win fight.”
Ritson heads to Birmingham for what will only be his fifth fight inside four years. It’s hard to get your head around, isn’t it, given he once tore through the British lightweight scene with four wins inside nine breathtaking months.
Lewis goes into the Wolverhampton v Newcastle confrontation off the back of two stoppage defeats, a ninth-round KO by Ohara Davies in their WBA world title eliminator in March 2023 and a ninth-round stoppage to Paddy Donovan in Leeds in May.
It was a tremendous effort against the Irish southpaw but the loss took his record to 23-4 (13Kos), almost double the fights of his opponent with Walker boasting a 13-3 (5Kos) fight log.
Conah too is coming off a defeat last time out in a close contest with Lewis Crocker, with scores of 96-93 (twice) and 95-94 favouring the Irishman.
Ritson insists he is far from finished and is relishing what he believes will be an old-school scrap between two fighting men.
“We have similar styles, so we are not going to have to go looking for each other,” he smiled.
“It might be a hard night for both me and Conah in he ring but I think the audience will enjoy it.
“Conah has shown he has got a good chin and, aside from the final round of my last bout and the Ponce and Davies fights I’ve not taken much stick in a 27-fight career.
“I’d probably say Conah has taken more in his last two fights than we have in our entire career.”
Saturday promises to be crunch time. It’s not a fight to be missed.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Mark Robinson/ Matchroom
