A crossroads clash at super lightweight heads a card at the Newcastle Arena this Saturday, as hometown hero Lewis Ritson tackles Ohara Davies in a WBA super lightweight title final eliminator over twelve rounds.
Phil Jeffries promotes Ritson vs Davies, and FITE TV televise the bill, which will see the winner in line for a shot at WBA champion, Alberto Puello.
Since winning a Lonsdale Belt outright at lightweight in double-quick time in 2017/18, Ritson (23-2, 13 KOs) has largely not looked the same fighter since losing a European title tilt against Francesco Patera via split decision, where he was badly hurt throughout.
A move to ten stone followed, and he won four on the spin, including a points win over Robbie Davies Jr and a contentious split verdict win over Miguel Vazquez, but he was then dropped three times en route to a tenth round stoppage to Jeremias Ponce in June 2021.
The 29-year-old has won another two since then, the last a near shutout of former lightweight world champion Dejan Zlaticanin in March last year.
Davies (24-2, KO17) and the ‘Sandman’ have exchanged barbs for a while now, ahead of Friday’s showdown.
’Two Tanks’ has also stalled at key points in his career. After a promising start to his career, the 31-year-old was routed in seven rounds by Josh Taylor in 2017.
Davies would also lose an ugly decision to Jack Catterall at the back end of 2018, but then won the MTK Golden Contract tournament, defeating Tyrone McKenna via majority decision in the final.
The Londoner only boxed once in 2021 and 2022, and was last seen in June, stopping the limited Abdessamad Nechchad in eight rounds in Leeds.
Prediction: I think Ritson struggles when a fight is not to his liking, and Davies will likely make this a technical affair. I think the pick is for the Hackney man to come through clearly on points at the end of a frustrating contest for Ritson.
Ward clashes with Kholmatov
Thomas Patrick Ward is still undefeated, but yet to have a significant breakthrough fight.
He may well get it here, as he takes part in a WBA featherweight title eliminator for Mauricio Lara’s belt over twelve against Uzbek banger, Otabek Kholmatov.
Ward (33-0-1, 5 KOs) has been going through the motions for some time now, and Kholmatov (10-0, 9 KOs) will be a dangerous prospect.
The 24-year-old visitor only turned pro in August 2021, and stepped up to twelve rounds for the first time in his last fight, a decision win against Andranik Grigorian.
Prediction: If Ward can survive a heavy, early onslaught, he can come through on the cards.
McGregor meets Kabore
Lee McGregor (11-0-1, 9 KOs) saw his progress checked in his last fight with a draw against Diego Alberto Ruiz, but he should return to winning ways early in his super bantamweight eight rounder against Alexis Kabore (29-7, 8 KOs).
Remaining Undercard
In six rounders, Adam Cope (6-0) should take a points win in his super featherweight clash against Eliecer Quezada (24-12-3, 9 KOs), and at super welterweight, Ewan Mackenzie (6-0, 3 KOs) can do the same against the tough Serge Ambomo (9-40-3, 4 KOs).
Irish lightweight Steven Cairns (4-0, 2 KOs) should see off Jakub Laskowski (4-21-1, 2 KOs) on the cards, and Ben Rees (0-0-1) can get a first win, likely on points against Konstantin Alexsandrov (10-61-4, 3 KOs) at super middleweight.
In four round action, Nathan Forrest (2-0) can defeat Liam Fox (0-5) on points at super lightweight, and there are debuts for Callum Walton, who should halt Zdenko Bule (0-5) in their super middleweight meeting, and for Syed Shear, who will likely need the distance at lightweight against Cristian Narvaez (17-54-6, 2 KOs).
