Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of Lewis Ritson's fight with Ohara Davies live from Newcastle Arena.
Ranked fourth in the WBA super-lightweight standings, Ritson is back in action on home soil after almost a year without a fight, taking on the WBA number two in a 12-round title eliminator. The winner of the WBA super-lightweight bout will take on current champion Alberto Puello (21-0, 10KO), if the Dominican titleholder defends his belt to Rolando Romero in May.
Both Ritson and Davies possess very similar pedigree with the Londoner just edging Forest Hall's Ritson on wins and knockouts. Both fighters beat Miguel Vazquez by decision, much to the disappointment of the Mexican who felt he won both fights.
Davies is coming into the clash on a six-fight winning streak after defeat to Jack Catterall on points over four years ago - winning the MTK Golden Contract tournament that gave his stock the boost it needed.
Ritson has bounced back from his loss to hard-hitting Jeremias Ponce in 2021 with two wins in three months against Christian Uruzquieta and Dejan Zlaticanin, between December 2021 to March 2022, but hasn't fought in almost a year.
The fight will be streamed on Fite TV.
You can follow all the build-up to the fight in our live blog below.
The shot that won it for Ohara Davies
Ohara Davies stops Lewis Ritson with a sickening left hook to the body
— IFL TV (@IFLTV) March 4, 2023
An early KO of the year contender?
@FiteTV #RitsonDavies #Knockout #BoxingFans pic.twitter.com/NCEvoVLSyx
Ohara Davies
When I first got into boxing, becoming a world champion was my goal and my dream. I'm getting close to my dream. I'm going to achieve my goal and my dream and become a world champion. I caught him down there as part of the game plan. We realised his body was open but he's got a great guard. He kept on going and I went to the head and he didn't budge. My coaches said to keep going downstairs and I did it and it worked. I've sacrificed my life for this. I'm not thinking about what's next I'm going to go an enjoy some burger and some chips. I feel like I've been acting a lot of my career. I grew up watching Mayweather and I wanted to immitate them but it's not me. I like Lewis Ritson and his family, there was nothing but respect.
Ohara Davies wins by KO
Not to be for Lewis Ritson who took some punishment from Ohara Davies in there tonight.
The winner cuts an emotional figure as he sets up a WBA super-lightweight title fight.
Lewis Ritson is back on his stool
A distraught Lewis Ritson is back on his stool which is good to see and Ohara Davies goes over to check on him.
Ohara Davies takes the win
Lewis Ritson is still on the floor and there's oxygen coming in. Ohara Davies showing his respect with the lack of celebration with a very muted atmosphere inside the arena.
Ohara Davies wins
Lewis Ritson can't recover from a big bodyshot and the referee counts him out.
Ritson vs Davies
Ritson's gameplan has now changed and is boxing at close quarters with Davies struggling to generate the power at close range.
Davies then tags Ritson with a number of overhand lefts before putting Ritson down with a big left-hand.
Ritson vs Davies
Davies comes out targeting the body of Ritson again with the Sandman reacting to every feint but it's becoming somewhat predictable.
Ritson's corner telling him to fight in the pocket and it's working. Davies lands a big left-hook when Ritson was having a better spell and then lands an uppercut to disrupt the Geordie's flow.
Ritson vs Davies
Ritson staying out of range early doors but Davies is working his counters really well and catching the home boxer.
Davies lands a big left hook to the midriff of Ritson and follows it up with another, hurting the Sandman. Those shots are causing Ritson a lot of problems.
Another round for Davies there.
Ritson vs Davies
Davies looks to close the distance early on inside the sixth round and he catches Ritson with a big bodyshot which hurt the Sandman.
The Geordie hasn't fully recovered from that shot and Davies feints to the body leaving Ritson's head open to the uppercut.
Smart from Ritson to see that round through but another round for Davies.
Ritson vs Davies
Ritson gets caught by two big counters from Davies.
The Sandman is getting through to the body but Davies is comfortable to soak those up and land some big counters with a left and right-hook.
Ritson lands a big left-hook to the head of Davies and makes him miss with the counter.
A much better defence from Ritson in the fifth.
Ritson vs Davies
A much better start to the round from Ritson working the body of Davies but this time the left-hand of the London fighter gets through.
Ritson is loading up on the bodyshots but Davies counters with a strong left-hand.
The bigger shots are coming from Ohara Davies.
Ritson vs Davies
Davies again starts the round well with a big right-hand and then lands a good combination that looked like it rocked Ritson.
The Sandman responds well with his jab but Davies lands another uppercut. The right-hand is taking its toll on Ritson.
A strong end to the round from Davies and he's catching Ritson with a number of big right-hands over the top.
Ritson vs Davies
Ohara Davies lands a nice combination with a slip right-hand and then a jab.
Ritson then lands another good jab with calls from his own corner to keep using it.
The Geordie fighter lands a nice right-hand to the body of Davies but he responds with a big right-hook to the head of Ritson.
Some good work to the body from Ritson but he's vulnerable to the right-hand counter of Davies.
Ritson vs Davies
Davies with a quick combo in the opening stages, a quick right hand and then uppercut catches Ritson.
Ritson responds with a jab of his own.
Davies lands another uppercut at the midway point in the round.
Good boyshot from Ritson and then lands upstairs. A tight opening round.
Here comes Lewis Ritson
Here comes Ritson with the Blaydon Races booming in the background.
Ohara Davies' ringwalk
Ohara Davies has been a confident man all week. There's no change in that on fight night as he makes his walk to the ring.
Lewis Ritson vs Ohara Davies
'The Sandman' is up next in the WBA Super-Lightweight eliminator against Ohara Davies.
Lewis Ritson has been in the building an hour and looks relaxed
Calmest man in the place. Let’s go @lewis_ritson #RitsonDavies pic.twitter.com/yH3LMjBnNr
— BBB (@BritBoxingBlog) March 4, 2023
Callum Walton on the win
It was exactly what I was dreaming of. [The hook to the body] It's what we work on a lot. I'm going to go and get a Chinese and then we'll be back in the gym tomorrow. Thanks everyone for coming out.
Walton wins via KO
A huge bodyshot from Walton sees him start his professional career with a win over Zdenko Bule.
Walton vs Bule
Bule again sticking to the outside of the ring with Walton dominating the middle of the ring.
The debutant lands a big bodyshot to Bule and the Croatian is struggling.
Walton lands a huge hook to the body and Bule is out for the count.
Walton vs Bule
Walton starts the first round well, a right-hand gets through and Bule acknowledges it.
Nice body shot from Walton midway through the round. The Croatian boxer is skirting round the edges of the ring wasting a lot of energy.
Callum Walton vs Zdenko Bule
County Durham's Callum Walton making his debut up next.
Ben Rees
I'm buzzing. It was a nightmare of a year and I'm glad to get back in there and put it right. The plan was to take my time but once I started landing my shots and the crowd started cheering I got a bit excited. The opponent wasn't up to much tonight but once the opponents start getting better so will my performances.
Rees with a KO
After a draw in his first professional fight Rees bounces back with a first-round stopage and knockout win over Aleksandrov.
Rees vs Aleksandrov
Rees has Aleksandrov on the ropes for the majority of the round and lands a first round knockout with just under a minute left in the round.
Two body shots and a left hook to end the fight.
Ben Rees vs Konstantin Aleksandrov
Ashington's Ben Rees take son Konstantin Aleksandrov next.
Kholmatov post fight
Thank you everybody very much. Thomas Ward - good work. Thank you everyone for coming and supporting us. I want to thank my family, my team and for the Championship fight I will prepare much harder.
He's a very, very tough fighter. A championship fighter. I spar with so many top fighters and he punches very hard.
Kholmatov wins by TKO
Otabek Kholmatov with a really strong performance over Thomas Ward. The towel comes in from Ward's corner after a third knockdown.
A big left-hook followed up by a right catches Ward. A spirited performance but a dominant display from Kholmatov who looks destined for big things.
