Sunderland Echo

COURAGEOUS FOOT BEATEN BY DAVIES JNR

ROBBIE DAVIES JNR SHOWS EXTRA QUALITY TO WIN SCRAPPY BOUT

- By Jake Smith nep.sport@jpress.co.uk @sunderland­echo

Robbie Davies Jnr defeated Marley Pots boxer Glenn Foot to secure the British and Commonweal­th Super Lightweigh­t titles.

Davies took the unanimous decision victory (119109, 118-110, 117-112) in what was only Foot’s fourth profession­al loss.

The bout wasn’t of the explosive nature that Foot’s fans are used seeing, with a majority of it being spent with Davies clinching when Foot was finding his range.

Duringthes­econdround, the two clashed heads, leaving Davies Jnr with a cut above his left eye, but it didn’t seem to effect his performanc­e in the slightest.

At the halfway mark, both men had found their rhythm and it was Davies Jnr making the list of the exchanges. Moving well, Davis was finding a vast amount of success countering as Foot was coming forward.

Undeterred, Foot continued the push forward but it was much of the same from Davies, keeping out of the way and landing key counters.

By the time round 10 came, Davies had fully asserted his dominance in the bout, landing cleaner and keeping the fight exactly where he wanted it.

The final bell rang and it was Davies with his arms in the air immediatel­y as a dejected Glenn Foot walked to his corner. Foot gave a valiant effort, but couldn’t find a way to overcome Davies Jnr’s game plan.

Lewis Ritson has suffered his first profession­al loss at the hands of Francesco Patera.

The gruelling contest was battled over 12 rounds with Patera taking the victory via a split decision with the judges scoring the bout: 116112, 112-116, 116-112.

The bout saw Ritson take the step up to the European level for the first time and seemed to be slightly out boxed by a solid Patera.

There was an electric atmosphere roaring around the Metro Radio arena as Ritson made his ring walk and the atmosphere continued throughout the early rounds of the bout.

The first three rounds were exactly what fans have come to expect watching Ritson, an explosive start filled with flurries of well timed and placed punches.

Patera offered a different type of challenge than most of Ritson’s previous opponents, coming out swinging and not allowing Ritson to fight the fight his way.

Ritston boxed smart, using a wide range of shot selections to work both the head and body of Patera early on.

Patera piled the pressure on ‘The Sandman’ in during the middle rounds, hurting Ritson at the end of the seventh. Ritson stayed composed and kept chipping away at every opportunit­y.

The fan favourite relentless­ly took the fight Patera yet it was Patera finding more success with heavy shots. Ritson seemingly lacking the sharpness fans are used to seeing.

Ritson continued to take substantia­l damage but was answering back every time Patera landed.

As the fight rolled into the last two rounds, it was evident both men were struggling to keep up the exciting pace they had started at.

It was a big learning experience for Ritson who will no doubt look to come back with a big victory the next time he makes the walk to the cage.

It seems unclear whether Ritson will stay at European level for his next bout as promoter Eddie Hearn admitted he will have to talk to Ritson and his team before making the decision.

In one of the night’s earlier bouts, West Rainton’s Tommy Ward took just over two minutes to stop Tom Tran in a faultless display.

 ??  ?? Glenn Foot lands a blow on Robbie Davies Jnr in their British and Commonweal­th Super-Lightweigh­t Championsh­ip fight. Pictures by Simon Stacpoole.
Glenn Foot lands a blow on Robbie Davies Jnr in their British and Commonweal­th Super-Lightweigh­t Championsh­ip fight. Pictures by Simon Stacpoole.
 ??  ?? Glenn Foot is consoled by Robbie Davies Jnr.
Glenn Foot is consoled by Robbie Davies Jnr.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom