Lewis Ritson

Lewis David Ritson (born 22 September 1993) is a British professional boxer. He held the British lightweight title from 2017 to 2018 and challenged once for the European lightweight title in 2018.

Lewis Ritson
Statistics
Real nameLewis David Ritson
Nickname(s)Sandman
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)[1]
Reach70 in (178 cm)
NationalityBritish
Born (1993-09-22) 22 September 1993[1]
Forest Hall,
Newcastle upon Tyne,
England
StanceOrthodox[1]
Boxing record
Total fights22
Wins21
Wins by KO12
Losses1

Amateur career

Ritson first started boxing at the age of eight.[2] He was an England international at amateur level and a dual title winner of the TTW belts at 67 kg and 71 kg respectively.[3] Ritson had 97 amateur fights in total and was also an ABA Seniors finalist.[4]

Professional career

Early career

Ritson made his professional boxing debut in April 2015 with a points win over Kristian Laight at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle.[1] He went on to box a further six times throughout the remainder of the year, winning all six; two by knockout.[1] Ritson won all five of his fights in 2016,[1] culminating in him securing the BBBofC Northern Area lightweight title with a seventh-round knockout win over Jordan Ellison on 3 December 2016.[1] As a result of his early performances as a professional, Ritson received interest from promoters Eddie Hearn, Barry McGuigan and Frank Warren.[4]

British lightweight champion

Having spent the first two years of his professional boxing career competing largely on small hall shows, Ritson fought live on Sky Sports for the first time on the undercard for Anthony Crolla–Ricky Burns at the Manchester Arena on 7 October 2017.[5] He defeated Robbie Barrett by way of TKO in the seventh round having dropped Barrett on four occasions, in doing so winning the British lightweight title.[5][6] Just three days after the fight, on 10 October 2017, he signed a promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing, with Ritson highlighting his next goal to successfully defend the title three times and consequently win the Lonsdale Belt outright.[5]

Ritson's first defence of his British title was pencilled in when he answered Joe Murray's challenge,[7] with the pair headlining the Sky Sports NXTGEN bill in Manchester on 25 February 2018.[8][9] Ritson won the bout courtesy of a "whirlwind stoppage victory" in the first round and afterwards discussed the possibility of fighting former British lightweight champion Scott Cardle, who was watching ringside.[8] Cardle was subsequently named as Ritson's next opponent on the Dillian Whyte–Lucas Browne undercard at The O2 Arena on 24 March 2018.[10] Ahead of the fight, Ritson stated "I've been on small hall shows in the past and now I'm headlining on Sky Sports and heading to The O2 on a big show – it's amazing and I'm working hard to make sure that this is just the beginning".[11] Ritson successfully retained his British lightweight title with a second round stoppage victory over Cardle.[12][13]

He was then matched to defend his British lightweight title against unbeaten Northern Irish boxer Paul Hyland Jnr, co-headlining the Sky Sports event at the Metro Radio Arena in his home city of Newcastle on 16 June 2018.[14][15] Ritson won the fight courtesy of a first round stoppage having knocked Hyland Jnr down three times in the opening round.[16] The win meant that he secured the British lightweight belt outright.[16] Four days after the fight, Ritson signed a new five-fight deal with Matchroom Boxing.[17]

"Lewis Ritson has fast become one of the most popular and exciting fighters in British boxing and now he gets an opportunity to challenge for a European title. He has cleared up domestically and this is the next step."

Promotor Eddie Hearn on Ritson's challenge for the vacant European lightweight title.[18]

European lightweight challenge

Matchroom Boxing announced that Ritson would headline a card at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle in October 2018, where he would challenge for the European lightweight title.[18][19] His opponent was revealed as former titleholder Francesco Patera on 28 August 2018, with the two competing for the vacant title.[18] Before challenging for the European title, Ritson would first appear on the Amir Khan undercard at the Arena Birmingham on 8 September 2018, in an eight-round "warm-up fight" that was made in the hope Ritson would get some rounds under his belt having fought for a total of four rounds over the course of the previous year.[20] Ritson knocked out Nicaraguan boxer Oscar Amador following a body shot at the beginning of round three of the bout.[21]

Ritson lost to Patera by split decision on 13 October 2018.[22] Two judges scored the fight 116–112, 116–112 for Patera, and the remaining judge scored it 116–112 in Ritson's favour.[22] Following the defeat, Ritson stated a body shot in the fifth round hurt him and that he did not fully recover for the remainder of the fight.[22][23]

Move to light welterweight

Ritson was initially meant to defend his British lightweight title against Andy Townend at the Copper Box Arena in London on 23 March 2019.[24] It was then stated that Ritson would be vacating his British lightweight title and moving up a weight division to light welterweight, fighting Argentina's German Argentino Benitez for the WBA Inter-Continental super-lightweight title.[25] On his move up to light welterweight, Ritson stated "now is the right time to move up to 140lbs. I probably should have moved up in weight a while ago but I was determined to test myself on the European scene which is why I carried on."[26] Ritson defeated Benitez by unanimous decision over ten rounds.[27]

Ritson defended his WBA Inter-Continental light welterweight title against Polish challenger Marek Jedrzejewski on 2 August 2019. The referee called a stop to the one-sided bout at 2:50 of the 3rd round. This win set up a fight with Robbie Davies Jr. on 19 October.[28]

Personal life

Ritson is a Newcastle United supporter and wears the club's black and white stripes on his customary shorts.[29] He walks to the ring to Geordie folk song Blaydon Races.[29]

Professional boxing record
Professional record summary
22 fights 21 wins 1 loss
By knockout 12 0
By decision 9 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
22 Win 21–1 Miguel Vázquez SD 12 17 Oct 2020 East of England Arena, Peterborough, England Won vacant WBA Inter-Continental super-lightweight title
21 Win 20–1 Robbie Davies Jr. UD 12 19 Oct 2019 Utilita Arena, Newcastle, England
20 Win 19–1 Marek Jedrzejewski TKO 3 (10), 2:50 2 Aug 2019 Exhibition Centre, Liverpool, England Retained WBA Inter-Continental super-lightweight title
19 Win 18–1 German Argentino Benitez UD 10 23 Mar 2019 Copper Box Arena, London, England Won vacant WBA Inter-Continental super-lightweight title
18 Loss 17–1 Francesco Patera SD 12 13 Oct 2018 Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, England For vacant European lightweight title
17 Win 17–0 Oscar Amador KO 3 (8), 0:36 8 Sep 2018 Arena Birmingham, Birmingham, England
16 Win 16–0 Paul Hyland Jnr TKO 1 (12), 2:53 16 Jun 2018 Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, England Retained British lightweight title
15 Win 15–0 Scott Cardle TKO 2 (12), 2:05 24 Mar 2018 The O2 Arena, London, England Retained British lightweight title
14 Win 14–0 Joe Murray TKO 1 (12), 1:55 25 Feb 2018 Victoria Warehouse Hotel, Manchester, England Retained British lightweight title
13 Win 13–0 Robbie Barrett TKO 7 (12), 2:27 7 Oct 2017 Manchester Arena, Manchester, England Won British lightweight title
12 Win 12–0 Jordan Ellison KO 7 (10), 1:35 3 Dec 2016 Rainton Meadows Arena, Houghton-le-Spring, England Won vacant Northern Area lightweight title
11 Win 11–0 James Gorman RTD 4 (6), 3:00 8 Oct 2016 Ashington Leisure Centre, Ashington, England
10 Win 10–0 Nathan Hardy TKO 2 (6), 3:00 10 Jul 2016 Stadium of Light, Sunderland, England
9 Win 9–0 Bence Molnar UD 10 26 Mar 2016 Bellahouston Leisure Centre, Glasgow, Scotland Won vacant WBC Youth Silver lightweight title
8 Win 8–0 Daniel Bazo RTD 3 (6), 3:00 30 Jan 2016 Marriott Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland
7 Win 7–0 Mikhail Avakian TKO 4 (10), 2:14 27 Nov 2015 Bellahouston Leisure Centre, Glasgow, Scotland
6 Win 6–0 Youssef al-Hamidi PTS 4 20 Nov 2015 Rainton Meadows Arena, Houghton-le-Spring, England
5 Win 5–0 Jordan Ellison PTS 6 19 Sep 2015 Lancastrian Suite, Gateshead, England
4 Win 4–0 Simas Volosinas PTS 4 5 Jul 2015 Stadium of Light, Sunderland, England
3 Win 3–0 Chris Adaway KO 1 (6) 4 Jun 2015 Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland
2 Win 2–0 Janis Puksins PTS 4 8 May 2015 Borough Hall, Hartlepool, England
1 Win 1–0 Kristian Laight PTS 4 4 Apr 2015 Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, England

References
  1. "Lewis Ritson – Boxrec". Boxrec. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. "Lewis Ritson inks promotional pact with Eddie Hearn". BoxingScene. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  3. "Lewis Ritson heads home". Boxing News Online. 5 July 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  4. "Lewis Ritson is starting to get noticed by boxing world, which could change his career plans". Chronicle Live. 25 March 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  5. "Lewis Ritson signs promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing". Sky Sports. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  6. "Lewis Ritson masterclass sees him claim British title – and he's targeting big fights next". Chronicle Live. 8 October 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  7. "Lewis Ritson to fight Joe Murray". Boxing News. 1 February 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  8. "JD NXTGEN: Lewis Ritson defends British title with first round stoppage of Joe Murray". Sky Sports. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  9. "Lewis Ritson promises to bring British title home ahead of first defence against Joe Murray". Chronicle Live. 24 February 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  10. "Lewis Ritson promises to beat Scott Cardle before targeting bigger things going forward". Chronicle Live. 23 March 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  11. "Whyte vs Browne: Lewis Ritson defends British belt against Scotty Cardle on The O2 bill". Sky Sports. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  12. "Whyte vs Browne: Lewis Ritson defends British belt with stoppage of Scott Cardle". Sky Sports. 24 March 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  13. "Lewis Ritson in line to win British title outright at Newcastle show after big Scott Cardle win". Chronicle Live. 24 March 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  14. "Lewis Ritson on a 'mad' career ascent prior to Paul Hyland Jr bout". BBC Sport. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  15. "George vs Kelly: Previewing Josh Kelly and Lewis Ritson's North East homecoming". Sky Sports. 16 June 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  16. "George vs Kelly: Lewis Ritson destroys Paul Hyland Jr in opening round to win British belt outright". Sky Sports. 16 June 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  17. "Ritson signs new five fight deal with Matchroom Boxing". Sky Sports. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  18. "Ritson vs Patera: Lewis Ritson receives European title fight against Francesco Patera". Sky Sports. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  19. "Lewis Ritson set for European lightweight title fight". Sky Sports. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  20. "'Perfect warm-up' for Lewis Ritson as he wins in Birmingham ahead of October homecoming". Chronicle Live. 8 September 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  21. "Khan vs Vargas: Lewis Ritson scores KO win ahead of European title shot". Sky Sports. 9 September 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  22. "Ritson vs Patera: Lewis Ritson beaten on points by Francesco Patera in European title fight". Sky Sports. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  23. "Lewis Ritson: Briton beaten on points by Francesco Patera in Newcastle". BBC Sport. 14 October 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  24. "Lewis Ritson set for British title defence against Andy Townend". Boxing Social. 13 January 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  25. "Ritson moves up to super-lightweight". Matchroom Boxing. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  26. "Lewis Ritson to take on Benitez as he makes move up to super lightweight". Chronicle Live. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  27. "Ritson toils to points win". Sky Sports. 23 March 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  28. https://www.boxingscene.com/ritson-vs-davies-jr-likely-next-pair-win-liverpool--141405
  29. "Lewis Ritson ready for anyone after stunning first British title defence against Joe Murray". Chronicle Live. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
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