Almost 8000 fans packed the Newcastle Metro Arena on Saturday evening to witness the next steps in the burgeoning careers of Lewis Ritson and Josh Kelly – two local lads now seemingly with the boxing world at their feet after impressive victories.
First up, ‘The Sandman’ Lewis Ritson defended his British Lightweight Title against unbeaten Paul Hyland Jnr in what was an electric atmosphere. Barely had the chants of ‘Toon Toon’ and ‘Black and White army’ subsided and the fight was over. Ritson meeting Hyland’s fire with fire to devastating effect – flooring the Irishman three times with ferocious punch power before the referee rightly waved it off.
Given how Ritson despatched Scott Cardle in his previous defence, it was a strange decision by Hyland to adopt almost identical tactics and when Ritson felt what Hyland had to offer (and seeing an early left jab hurt his opponent) he knew he could stand and trade. Three brutal assaults later the contest was stopped and the Lonsdale belt was Ritson’s outright. Whether he can afford to solely rely on his power at a higher level remains to be seen – certainly he can’t leave his chin out as he has done when he eventually mixes with the best – but it was a display which had the experts (and his promoter) purring and the locals giving him the moniker the Geordie Golovkin.
Ritson has barely completed four rounds in securing the belt outright due to his explosive hell-for-leather approach, a style which promises to excite fans of the more blood and thunder aspect of the sport as was the case at the Metro Arena.
Later, Josh Kelly claimed the Commonwealth Welterweight Title after outboxing Kris George for seven rounds before the Australian retired with a suspected broken hand – though his win couldn’t have been much different to Ritson’s and was more one for boxing purists.
Kelly’s slick movement kept him out of any real danger throughout and despite occasional lapses in concentration, was never in any danger.
The Sunderland fighter landed hurtful shots at the end of the first round and especially in the fourth, dominating throughout, though a stoppage never looked likely as George tried to produce work of his own on the back foot. Instead, Kelly was intent moving in and out of range firing shots from all angles and showing, at times, dazzling footwork. It was far removed from the three-minute blow out fans had witnessed moments earlier but equally effective as the contest was ended before the start of the eighth.
The careers of Ritson and Kelly are on similar trajectories – both will surely box for European honours within the next twelve months and the ringside pundits hail both as quality operators. Though that’s where the similarities end.
In Ritson we have the fighter and in Kelly, the boxer. Indeed, there was marked change in atmosphere between the two fights – reflective of their styles – the frenzy which had greeted Ritson’s victory was replaced with hushed calm as Kelly performed.
Opposites they may be but both represent genuine hope for NE and British boxing over the coming years and on this showing, there may be many more occasions these two fight on the same bill.
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