Probellum promote from the Newcastle Arena this Friday night, with several North East favourites in action. Lewis Ritson is the bill topper here, and he takes on Dejan Zlaticanin, a former world champion, in a super lightweight ten rounder.
Eurosport televise Ritson vs Zlaticanin live in the UK.
Ritson (22-2, 13 KOs) has largely flattered to deceive at ten stone since moving up a weight class, and is in search of big fights in the division.
The 28-year-old won a lightweight Lonsdale Belt outright in less than four rounds, and big things were expected, but he was derailed in a European title tilt against France’s Patera, hurt badly throughout before losing on the cards, and that prompted a move to super lightweight.
The highlight of his four straight wins in the new division was a points victory over Robbie Davies Jr, but he was fortunate to be given a decision win over Miguel Vazquez in a fight many thought the Mexican won.
June 2021 saw a second career defeat, when Jeremias Nicolas Ponce had him over three times in a tenth round stoppage.
‘Sandman’ rebounded under the Probellum banner in December, forcing Christian Uruzquieta to retire after nine rounds after being floored.
He now meets Zlaticanin (24-3, 16 KOs), who is moving up from lightweight, where he had a brief spell WBC champion.
The 37-year-old is coming to the end of his career, and has lost three of his last five, suffering a knockout defeat to Mikey Garcia in January 2017, in which he lost his world title.
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The Montenegro man was halted in two by Roberto Ramirez in 2018, and he was last out in September last year after nearly two years away from the sport, losing a decision to Zaur Abdullaev over twelve out in Russia.
Prediction: Ritson needs to push on if he is to make the step up to the next level, and will want to put on a performance here. Zlaticanin may hang around though, and Ritson might have to settle for a points win.
Williamson defends British belt
Darlington’s Troy Williamson is finally getting some long overdue exposure, and ’The Trojan’ defends his British super welterweight title for the first time on this bill against Mason Cartwright.
Williamson (17-0-1, 13 KOs) won the belt in his last fight, travelling to Liverpool and appearing on a rival promoter’s card to stop Ted Cheeseman in the tenth round of an absolute thriller.
The 30-year-old now makes a maiden defence against Cheshire-based, ’Nutty’ Cartwright (17-2-1, 7 KOs), whose two defeats have come inside schedule.
The 29-year-old has won two since a third round stoppage defeat to Danny Ball in October 2019, and his last win came in November 2021, a first round retirement win over Daniel Lartey.
Prediction: Williamson is a tall, rangy operator, and Cartwright may struggle to get inside his long reach. I expect Williamson to retain in style, scoring a stoppage win within six.
Patrick Ward returns
At featherweight, Thomas Patrick Ward is still in search of meaningful fights, as he maintains lofty rankings with the various governing bodies, and he doesn’t really get that here as he takes on Alexis Boureima Kabore (29-5, 8 KOs) over a scheduled ten rounds.
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Ward (31-0-1, 4 KOs) has one of the longest, active unbeaten streaks in British boxing, but has yet to make the step up, and was last out in December, winning a decision over ten against Leonardo Padilla.
Prediction: Burkina Faso’s Kabore is best known for losing every round of ten against Archie Sharp at the back end of last year, and it should be a near shutout win for Ward in this one.
McCormack makes debut
2020 Olympic Silver medalist, Pat McCormack makes his professional debut, and the man from Sunderland should take a points win in his six rounder with Nicaragua’s Danny Mendoza (6-7, 4 KOs).
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Dickinson faces Kramer
Mark Dickinson (2-0, 1 KO) takes part in professional fight number three, and he can halt Peter Kramer (11-4-3, 8 KOs) inside the distance of their super middleweight encounter.
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Newcastle favourite, Joseph Laws, super flyweight, Joe Maphosa are set to feature on the bill against opponents to be confirmed and there is a professional debut for Ben Rees, against an opponent as well to be confirmed.
