Lewis Ritson Set For Ohara Davies Task With Misfits Heading To Telford

Both sides of the boxing viewership have action to get their teeth into this weekend as Lewis Ritson vs Ohara Davies and Misfits 005 open up March.

For Ritson and Davies, it is a meeting at their most important moment.

The WBA #2 and WBA #5 have the chance to line themselves up for a shot at gold. A shot enabled by Josh Taylor’s decision to relinquish three of the four world title belts last year.

It was a decision that breathed life into the challengers at 140lb, who were sat waiting amongst the fiasco that was Taylor’s potential rematch with Jack Catterall.

A domino effect followed the vacating of the belts, as governing bodies selected challengers for vacant titles. Davies’ case was put forward, but it was Alberto Puello and Botirzhon Akhmedov who would fight for the WBA strap.

Puello’s split decision victory saw him make it a Dominican double as countryman Hector Garcia was also crowned world champion on a historic night in Hollywood.

So that’s the belt’s journey, now for the journey of THESE TWO.

Lewis Ritson’s story has been one of untimely setbacks. The Ritson that blitzed his way to a British title outright - more specifically in 11 rounds over 4 fights - was one of the country’s most talked about fighters. But a step up to European level was a step too far.

A move to super-lightweight started well. A four-fight winning streak included a FOTY contender with Robbie Davies Jr. But, on the cusp of hitting the world scene, Ritson was dropped and stopped by the vicious Jeremias Ponce.

It looked to many like a road too worn to ride again. But hanging the gloves up would mean acceptance - acceptance that you were never as good as you believed.

So it was back to the ring, and back to winning ways. Questions still remained, mainly over whether his once-crippling power will ever translate at 140. It may be a power he needs if he is to unravel a natural super-lightweight in Ohara Davies.

As for Davies, well, there isn’t an article long enough to document the rollercoaster that he has ridden to get here. He is a fighter whose talent has always had a backdrop of controversy.

But controversy brings eyes, and eyes bring opportunities which has led to success on several fronts. Just not yet on the world stage.

It does feel likes Davies has been sitting on his hands since that Golden Contract win in late 2020. Those 30 months have unfortunately seen little ring-time, but perhaps more fortunately seen the surfacing of a character that has learnt from his past outside of the ring.

He enters Saturday night as the bookies favourite, and with a win will edge himself closer to world level. With so much at stake, I cannot see a way this fight doesn’t deliver.

The same could well be said for the latest instalment in the MISFITS SERIES.

Which yes, I know is a sentence of treason. But I’ve learnt to take this scene at face value. The level of entertainment far outweighs the level of skill, and they all know it too.

Episode 005 features the first ever tag-team match in which cult hero Luis Pineda and his Misfits 004 opponent BDave will go up against Anthony Vargas and Ice Poseidon.

How on earth that will even work could well be worth tuning in for.

The bill is topped by hometown hero Jay Swingler who fights Nichlmao. The latter is making his Misfits debut, and will no doubt be welcomed with violence by Jay who put a beating on Cherdleys in Misfits 002.

Misfits favourite King Kenny is back and looking to make it three wins in a row. He will be in with R&B singer Ashley Rak-Su who last year went the distance with Anthony Taylor.

And how could I forget the female flyweight crown being contested by Astrid Wett and AJ Bunker? There is a dislike running through this match-up so expect handbags starting with fight week. The winner here will no doubt be a target for the current female influencer queen in Elle Brooke.

It could be a frenzied night in Telford.

Oscar Bevis 

Official reporter for iFL TV

Proving his worth whilst SURROUNDED BY SOME OF THE SPORT’S MOST SUCCESSFUL FIGURES. The Fury name must come with a weight that at times feels impossible to lift. Sure, last night will not be remembered in the annals of boxing history.

But for Tommy Fury, it is a night that allows him to live again.

For now…

Oscar Bevis 

Official reporter for iFL TV