Hot on the heels of their first promotion in Dubai, Probellum branch into the UK market, as the Rainton Meadows Arena in Houghton-le-Spring hosts a night of action, with Lewis Ritson topping the bill against Christian Uruzquieta over ten rounds at super lightweight.
Ritson vs Uruzquieta will be aired on Freesports in the UK.
Ritson (21-2, 12 KOs) is looking to bounce back here with a win, after suffering defeat last time out in an IBF world title eliminator against Jeremias Nicolas Ponce, where the Forest Hall native was stopped in ten rounds by the dangerous Argentine.
‘Sandman’ was touted for big things after capturing a Lonsdale Belt outright as a lightweight in less than four months and in a combined less than four rounds for his three defences, but his progress was checked in a bruising defeat to Francesco Patera in a challenge for the vacant European belt.
It was a split decision loss, but Ritson was badly hurt and well beaten. He moved to ten stone, and had four straight wins before the loss to Ponce. Mexico’s Uruzquieta (20-4-2, 7 KOs) doesn’t look too much of a threat on paper, although he is a former WBC International Silver title holder at lightweight.
The 31-year-old has won two straight contests since a June 2019 draw in Canada against Will Madera.
Prediction: Ritson needs a performance here, but his power hasn’t over carried up to super lightweight. He should make a fast start against Uruzquieta, but then may have to go through the motions to take a victory on the scorecards.
Burns battles Dominguez
Ricky Burns is still campaigning, and the three-weight world champion is in action at lightweight here, taking on Argentina’s Emiliano Dominguez over ten.
Burns (43-8-1, 16 KOs) hasn’t been seen since the back end of 2019, where he lost a majority verdict to Lee Selby, and is certainly in the back end of a glittering career.
Dominguez (26-9-1, 10 KOs) has lost six of his last eleven outings, but has never been stopped. The 32-year-old is known on these shores for giving Sean McComb a torrid time in October 2019, dropping the Irishman and cutting both of his eyes before losing on points after eight rounds.
Prediction: If Burns can keep the fight at distance, he should take a clear points win.
Ward returns
Thomas Patrick Ward is still in search of a big opportunity, but the home fighter must make do with a ten round featherweight assignment with Venezuela’s Leonardo Padilla.
Ward (30-0-1, 4 KOs) is well ranked with the governing bodies at the weight below and can’t afford a slip up here.
The 27-year-old was last out in June, where he had to get off the canvas in the fifth before taking a points win against Edy Valencia Mercado.
Padilla (20-3, 14 KOs) fights in the UK for the first time, and has been knocked out twice in his last five contests, although he has won his last two.
Prediction: Ward can get the job done late on.
Remaining Undercard
‘Benwell Bomber’ Joe Laws (11-1, 5 KOs) continues his rebuild after a stoppage defeat to Rylan Charlton, and the welterweight may need all six rounds to defeat Aleksey Tukhtarov (4-22-6, 3 KOs).
Mark Dickinson (1-0, 1 KO) is in action again, and he can halt Michael Gazdik (6-17, 4 KOs) in their super middleweight six rounder.
View this post on Instagram
At super featherweight, Adam Cope (2-0) should need all four rounds to see off Rustem Fatkhullin (8-17, 3 KOs), and at welterweight, Ewan Mackenzie (2-0, KO0) can do the same against Qasim Hussain (4-112-1).
Featherweight prospect, Mark McKeown (4-0, 2 KOs) can halt Uriel Lopez (13-16-1, 6 KOs) inside their six round distance, and at super welterweight, Alex Farrell (5-0, 2 KOs) can do the same against Ivica Gogosevic (12-38-2, 5 KOs) who was stopped in a round by Mark Dickinson in October.
View this post on Instagram
