Lewis Ritson vs. Miguel Vazquez - 17 October 2020

[DazBoxingFan]

I had Vazquez beating OD but that was a while ago now. Still, he could be tricky for Ritson if he just tries to bulldoze his way in.

Agreed he’s a world class awkward spoiler so can cause complications but I think Ritson will fresh and big

[Stuarty]

I had Vazquez beating OD but that was a while ago now. Still, he could be tricky for Ritson if he just tries to bulldoze his way in.

Agreed he’s a world class awkward spoiler so can cause complications but I think Ritson will fresh and big

Yeah you'd like to think Ritson has learned from the Patera defeat. MV had a few moments of success against Taylor when they fought and Taylor was just charging forward all night.

[jonnyyorkshu]

Riston on points as MV is just a name now

[PredatorHayds]

Can’t see Vazquez bringing much ambition to this fight.

[chrisnew86]

I think Dave Allen is being added to the card.

On the poster I saw it just says +Dave Allen so who knows, maybe he's doing some stand up on the night

[TheGman]

Boxing is fvked in this country,if Eddie Bazzer had their way this would be on ppv

[Stuarty]

Boxing is fvked in this country,if Eddie Bazzer had their way this would be on ppv

They were chanting about Ritson v Josh Taylor not so long ago

[TheGman]

Boxing is fvked in this country,if Eddie Bazzer had their way this would be on ppv

They were chanting about Ritson v Josh Taylor not so long ago

Haha i know ye,they did sell us Brook vs Gavin tho so i wouldnt put anything past them

[Stuarty]

They were chanting about Ritson v Josh Taylor not so long ago

Haha i know ye,they did sell us Brook vs Gavin tho so i wouldnt put anything past them

I'm sure i remember some dodgy channel that i can't remember the name of now trying to sell a PPV of Cornelius Carr and Jane Couch on a bill somewhere. Must've been about 20 fuckin years ago! Was called Carr/Couch Last Chance or something bollocks like that

[Ruthless-RKO]

Speaking to iFL TV, Hearn admitted there was concern over shows like the Newcastle one, which are coming up in the short-term.

He said: "Everything is evolving as we talk. Things are changing every minute. We have to be led by the experts.

“Right now, we don’t have one show that is cancelled. But I’m sure, particularly in the short term, that may well change.

“The main worry for us is the short-term stuff. We feel that the longer term stuff, touch wood, will be okay. Usyk-Chisora is 11 weeks away, Joshua-Pulev is 14 weeks away. But we just don’t know.

“We’re just led by the decisions of the government and that is changing every day.

“I can’t tell you why an event should be cancelled. I haven’t got a clue [on the best course of action to combat coronavirus]. I leave it to the experts.

“If people tell me they’re fine and they’re safe to go ahead then so be it. The British Boxing Board of Control will ultimately follow government advice, and ultimately I think in the event of a show needing to be cancelled it will be taken out of our hands.

“I do have concern the short-term stuff will be cancelled. But right now, we have to be led by the experts.

“All I can tell fight fans is, if you’ve bought a ticket - be it the O2, Newcastle or Dillian Whyte - you will get a full refund if it’s cancelled."

On the Newcastle show specifically, he said: "In terms of likelihood, I would say it’s 50/50 - maybe April 4 (in Newcastle) 60/40 in favour of going ahead - especially with the Premier League announcing that April 3 date today.

“But we just can’t know what the strategy is going to be from the government.

“You could have another 2,000 confirmed cases tomorrow and suddenly everything is off for months.

“They might say all events over 5,000 have to be cancelled. Well we’ve not quite done 5,000 for the O2 [Where Sunderland's Josh Kelly headlines in a European title challenge against David Avanesyan], so we’d be able to go ahead with that.

“Newcastle is already at 7,500 so that would have to be cancelled. I don’t know what the answer is.

“People are still coming out for the big events, and I can’t see us doing those kind of shows behind closed doors. It doesn’t feel right. We’re a sport based on passion and energy in the moment and the fans are a massive part of the success of the sport of boxing.

“But my message is, if it’s off, don’t panic, you will get a full refund.”

Hearn did express concern for boxers, however.

As well as Ritson and Marshall, a number of other talented fighters from the region are due to be appear, including Joe Laws, Thomas Patrick Ward, Simon Vallily and April Hunter.

And as Hearn pointed out, a show cancellation would mean weeks of training wasted, as well as the fighters losing their means of income.

He continued: "We will make sure we act in the best interests of the fans, but also the fighters. As you know, this is a sport where you don’t get paid every day, or weekly. You get paid when you fight.

“A lot of these guys have been training for 8/9/10 weeks. But at the same time we can’t just put everyone at risk in order to put on a show.

“Maybe we have to move some events behind closed doors. It’s something we’ll have to look at. Otherwise, what are you going to do? Just have a period of three of four months where fighters can’t earn their money and provide for their families?

“It’s going to be difficult across all walks of life.”

Tickets, which will be fully refunded the event of a cancellation, are still available from boxers on the card, or from the arena website.

[Ruthless-RKO]

BBBofC have cancelled all events until June.

Some may consider doing them behind closed doors.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Ritson vs. Vazquez on April 4: This fight will be postponed until June 27th.

[rd350lc]

Eddeh bleeting that fighters won't be able to fight for 2 or 3 months .
Well that's exactly what happened from Xmas to last week !
Next to naff all from sky or Bt in Jan /Feb/march , now fighters won't be able to earn anything till the summer .
Obviously can't account for things like the situation at the moment , but it was exactly the same last Jan/Feb/march .

[Steel City]

Hope this one doesn't get rescheduled as Vasquez makes every fight he's in unwatchable he's that boring.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release

In line with the latest BBBofC and Government guidelines relating to COVID-19, Matchroom Boxing have taken the decision to reschedule their events due to take place in Newcastle on Saturday June 27th and Cardiff on Saturday July 11th, while the event taking place at Manchester Arena on Saturday July 4th has been cancelled.

Subject to the developing situation, Lee Selby’s IBF Lightweight World Title Final Eliminator against George Kambosos Jr at the Motorpoint Arena Cardiff has been rescheduled to Saturday October 3rd, while Lewis Ritson’s clash with former World Champion Miguel Vazquez at the Utilita Arena Newcastle has been rescheduled to Saturday October 17th.

Tickets will be valid for the rescheduled dates in Cardiff and Newcastle or refunds will be available from your point of purchase. Ticket refunds for the cancelled Manchester event will be available from your point of purchase.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Ritson vs Vazquez - Oct 17, live on Sky Sports

Lewis Ritson vs Miguel Vazquez

Savannah Marshall vs Hannah Rankin
Joe Laws
Qais Ashfaq
Kash Farooq
Thomas Patrick Ward

Newcastle's boxing hero Lewis Ritson returns against Mexico's former world champion Miguel Vazquez on Saturday October 17, live on Sky Sports. Former world amateur champion Savannah Marshall is back in action on the same night, battling Glasgow's Hannah Rankin for the vacant WBO middleweight belt.

Joe 'Benwell Bomber' Laws, another popular fighter from the north east, seeks his 10th professional win on the Ritson-Vaquez bill, which also includes Rio Olympian Qais Ashfaq, bantamweight talent Kash Farooq and highly-rated super-bantamweight Thomas Patrick Ward.

Adam Smith, Sky Sports Head of Boxing Development, said: "After the huge success of Fight Camp, we're delighted to announce another exciting line-up of live action, including a World Boxing Super Series Final, Joshua Buatsi and Lewis Ritson back in action, and then Povetkin-Whyte 2!

"The WBSS has already supplied some classic encounters, live on Sky Sports, so we're expecting even more drama when Mairis Briedis battles Yuniel Dorticos this month.

"Joshua Buatsi has every attribute to become one of Britain's biggest stars - and he takes another significant step in a clash with Marko Calic. Women's boxing is really booming, with Chantelle Cameron facing Adriana Dos Santos for the WBC super-lightweight belt on the same bill.

"Lewis Ritson has reignited the sport in the north east, but he cannot afford a slip-up against former world champion Miguel Vazquez, while England and Scotland also collide as Savannah Marshall takes on Hannah Rankin for the vacant WBO middleweight title.

"Dillian Whyte is determined to avenge that shock defeat to Alexander Povetkin - and the big-hitting heavyweight duo should provide another explosive encounter on Sky Sports Box Office. After a sizzling summer, get ready for an action-packed autumn!"

[Ruthless-RKO]

Matchroom Boxing's Eddie Hearn said: “I’m excited to announce our latest shows as we continue to bring boxing back during these unprecedented times. It’s so important to continue the momentum and as we leave behind an epic Fight Camp series, we now hope to see fans return to arenas. As those talks continue with the government, we are committed to running these shows with or without fans.

“I’m particularly pleased to see Joshua Buatsi return to the ring after a year out through illness and the pandemic. Josh is one of the most exciting young stars in the sport and he looks to make a statement as he prepares to challenge for a World Title in 2021. As women’s boxing continues its rise, Chantelle Cameron gets her chance at a World Title against the dangerous Adriana Dos Santos Araujo who has a whole host of victories on her amateur and professional CV.

“A couple of weeks later, the rescheduled Newcastle card emerges with Lewis Ritson against former World King Miguel Vazquez and an all-British World Title fight between Savannah Marshall and Hannah Rankin. Then in November, the big one, just a few weeks after one of the most dramatic Heavyweight bouts we have seen, Dillian Whyte rematches Alexander Povetkin in a must-win clash that will be full of drama.

“Before all that we bring you a brilliant fight between Yuniel Dorticos and Mairis Briedis in the WBSS Cruiserweight Final, and there is a whole host of other announcements to complete our autumn and winter schedule coming very soon.”

[margaret thatcher]

how many times you posted that one mate

[Ruthless-RKO]

how many times you posted that one mate

If you read it, each one is different for each fight.. Apart from what Hearn and Smith said.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Week!

[Ruthless-RKO]

Lewis Ritson vows to stop Miguel Vazquez 'if I bring my A-game'

Saturday night, live on Sky Sports from 6.30pm - Ritson vs Vazquez, Marshall vs Rankin plus more

Lewis Ritson intends to "prove" his worthiness on the world stage with a career-best win over Miguel Vazquez at the weekend.

Ritson fights for the vacant WBA intercontinental super-lightweight title against former world champion Vazquez on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports from 6.30pm.

"If I bring my A-game, I'll be too much for Miguel and will stop him," Ritson said.

"I think he's probably a little bit on the slide whereas I'm still on the way up, so we're meeting bang in the middle.

"This is the exact type of fight where I can gain more experience to move to the next step.

"He's been there and done it. We know what he is all about and what he will bring."

Former British champion Ritson lost his undefeated record two years ago in his home city of Newcastle in an unsuccessful European title challenge against Francesco Patera.

But he has since rebounded by impressively outpointing Robbie Davies Jr.

"Beating Robbie proved I'm at that European level, now it's time to prove I can go to the interim world level stage with a good win against Vazquez.

"That will pave the way for more big fights.

"We never take anyone lightly and we definitely haven't taken Vazquez lightly.

"If I bring my A-game, I'll have more than enough to beat him."

Saturday's fight with Vazquez has been postponed twice in 2020 already but Ritson feels like that will play into his hands.

"It has probably benefitted me more than most other fighters," he said.

"It has really allowed for us to gel and work on other areas of our game. Rather than wondering when a fight date may drop, despite the cancellations we have always had an end date in mind which has allowed for me to stay disciplined and sharp throughout.

"I've been in the gym the full year training hard and staying ready for whatever happens next.

"The start of lockdown gave me a chance to slow the pace down a little bit and work on a lot more of the technical stuff.

"I feel like I've improved a couple of levels compared to how I boxed against Robbie Davies Jr."

Ritson vs Vazquez - Oct 17, live on Sky Sports
Lewis Ritson vs Miguel Vazquez
Savannah Marshall vs Hannah Rankin
Joe Laws
Kash Farooq
Qais Ashfaq
Thomas Patrick Ward

[handsofstone]

Think Ritson stops Vazquez here, thought he looked really good against Davies Jr although i had it a draw, his jab was class, really gets power into it and he can dig to the body, no sure how much heart Vazquez has left for it, last time i seen him he quit against Mbenge, in saying that a lot of people had him beating Ohara so maybe a little left in tank if Ritson not at the races, think he'll bust Vazquez up and force a stoppage late on

[rio]

Awful matchmaking this. I doubt the styles will gel. Ritson is always in exciting fights and there are so many good fights at 140 so no idea why they have gone for vazquez

[PredatorHayds]

Ritson Points. It will be wide. I’m expecting Vazquez to go into survival mode and smother and hold his way through.

[THEBUTCH]

This is a reasonable enough match for Ritson, but I won't be watching it though. I'll leave that for Ritson's fans to do. The problem arrives if Fast Eddie is selling it as some sort of world class contest. It isn't, but it is a decent international pairing.

Vasquez was on the wrong end of the decision against O'Hara Davies IMO. I didn't think it was even that close or up for debate. To his credit Davies made it clear that he'd thought it was the wrong decision too.