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Home » EXCLUSIVE: Patera predicted Ritson win exactly – says Davies Jr.

EXCLUSIVE: Patera predicted Ritson win exactly – says Davies Jr.

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Robbie Davies Jr has revealed the pre-fight predictions Francesco Patera made to him before his shock victory over Lewis Ritson in Newcastle.

Patera shocked Ritson and a raucous home crowd to win the vacant EBU lightweight title with a split-decision nod over the hard-hitting Ritson.

It came as a surprise to just about everyone. But not to Patera, who was confident he had seen enough weaknesses to exploit the pressure-fighting style of the much-hyped Ritson.

Davies Jr also fought on the card. The Liverpool man won the British and Commonwealth titles against Glenn Foot. He has since revealed to World Boxing News chats he had with Patera in the buildup.

“In my hotel where Matchroom put us in, The Hilton, The only other fighter staying there was Francesco Patera, who Lewis Ritson was fighting.

“He’s a brilliant lad. He can speak four different languages. He came over to us, and he was speaking to us, and that kid was so confident,” Davies Jr exclusively told World Boxing News.

“We took it with a pinch of salt because we thought Ritson was going to blow him away. But he was saying to us precisely what was going to happen.

“He said ‘the first four rounds he’s going to come at me. I’m just going to ride the storm and take over.’ And we were like, ‘oh yeah, you have never been in the storm like this, but he was as good as his word, and he’s an excellent fighter.”

RITSON

At just 25-years-old, a split-decision loss for the European title doesn’t have to be the end of the road for Ritson. The Newcastle man had said a body-shot hurt him in the fight and caused him to slow down.

Davies Jr himself had an early career disappointment against Michal Syrowatka. He avenged a defeat, and Davies doesn’t think this is the end of the road for Ritson.

“He’s still a great fighter. I’m sure he’ll come again. He’s achieved so much already, and he definitely can come back.” Davies Jr concluded.

Written by Thomas Davison.