What do you think of Lewis Ritson?
His stock’s very high at the moment. I think a lot of people are disregarding me which is quite funny after one loss. But I’m quite happy to fly under the radar and take that belt from him.
How do you feel about being written off?
Going off the last couple of performances, you’re as good as your last performance and I haven’t really shown enough in the past year, or year to 18 months. It’s time for me to start getting my act together and, what I’ve learned and all my experience, putting that to use. I’ll think you’ll see that.
What are the things you need to be careful of?
I’ve got to be more clever, I’ve got to focus more. I’ve got to use my intelligence, my boxing intelligence.
You’ve always got to be careful, but I think especially with Ritson. What he’s shown is he can blow kids out quite early. It’s not so much about being careful, it’s about being switched on. Sometimes I lack concentration and I go into cruise control. I’ve just got to stay switched on for the full 12 rounds. If that’s the case I’m on to a winner.
Do you think Ritson’s taking you lightly?
I’d be surprised if he is. I don’t think he is. I hope he is. We’ve sparred in the past. I think he knows I’m not going to take this fight lightly.
He’s a fighting man, I’m a fighting man. It’s not going to be a friendly.
The spars were great. We had some good tear ups, which could happen on Saturday.
Did you feel you had the edge in the spars?
Tactically I did, tactically at the time I did… Spars are so different to fight. As a boxer, with the skills I have, I did think I was tactically better. But he’s more of a fighter, a pressure fighter, comes forward a lot. He could easily let me get drawn into that. I think that’s what he’d want me to do.
If I use my boxing brain it could be much easier night than I want it to be. But it’s all down to the testosterone and the way I’m feeling on the night.
