Probellum promoted their firs UK show at Rainton Meadows Arena in Houghton-le-Spring, and in the main event, Lewis Ritson returned to action after 18 months out to force Christian Uruzquieta to retire after nine rounds of their super lightweight ten rounder.
Forest Hall’s Ritson was coming off a June 2020 loss to the unheralded Argentine, Jeremias Nicolas Ponce, where he was stopped in the tenth round, but he returned to winning ways here against the Mexican that came in unbeaten in his last four outings.
The 28-year-old was sharp with his jab throughout here, and established it quickly. He boxed smart against the crude visitor, using movement with feet and head to his advantage.
The end came at the end of the ninth frame, but during the round, Ritson scored a knockdown with a peach of a right uppercut as Uruzquieta came in.
The Mexican spat out his gumshield to buy time, and he then came back at the home favourite gamely, but his race was run, and his father and trainer withdrew him from battle at the end of the round.
#ProbellumUnstoppable | Main Card Highlights
That's all she wrote. @lewis_ritson
TONIGHT | Rainton Arena, Sunderland#Probellum #ProbellumUnstoppable #BritishBoxing pic.twitter.com/hHxZwubO33
— Probellum (@probellum) December 18, 2021
Burns makes successful return
Three-weight world champion, Ricky Burns returned to action for the first time in over two years, and the Scot took a wide ten round decision win against Emiliano Dominguez.
It’s unclear what the plans and ambitions are for ‘Rickster’ at this stage of his career, but he ran out a comfortable winner by scores of 100-91, 99-91 and 98-92 in this one.
Ward edges towards world title shot
Thomas Patrick Ward moved closer to a world title shot, as he pitched a near shutout in his featherweight ten rounder with Leonard Padilla.
Two scores of 100-90, and a their at 98-92, ensured Ward remained undefeated in 32 fights.
#ProbellumUnstoppable | Main Card Highlights
Speed kills for Thomas Patrick Ward.
TONIGHT | Rainton Arena, Sunderland#Probellum #ProbellumUnstoppable #BritishBoxing pic.twitter.com/EolGKxQyzD
— Probellum (@probellum) December 18, 2021
Laws sees off Devlin
Crowd pleaser, Joe Laws closed the show and ’The Benwell Bomber’ took a 60-55 verdict in his welterweight clash with Seamus Devlin.
Remaining Undercard
Gateshead’s Mark Dickinson made it 2-0 as a professional, taking all six rounds of his light heavyweight battle with Michal Gazdik.
At featherweight, Mark McKeown and Uriel Lopez served up a cracker, with McKeown taking it after six rounds by a 59-56 margin.
