Lewis Ritson weighed in slightly heavier than Miguel Vazquez ahead of their WBA Inter-Continental Super Lightweight title clash in Peterborough on Saturday, live on Sky Sports and DAZN in the USA.
Ritson (20-1, 12 KOs), who was set to face former world champion, Vazquez (42-9, 16 KOs) in April prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic weighed in inside the 10st limit at 9st 13lbs 7oz, whilst the Mexican who hit the scales at 9st 13lbs 3oz.
Victory for Ritson would keep him on course for a world title shot, holding a #2 ranking with the WBA, however the Forest Hall man insists he is not overlooking Vazquez, who went the distance with Canelo Alvarez and Timothy Bradley, as well as nine rounds with Josh Taylor.
“I feel spot on, feel good, felt good all week, got the weight off quite comfortably. I’m ready tomorrow night to rock and roll,” Ritson told Sky Sports.
“I think he looks a bit skinny, looks a bit frail, but he’s been there and done it and I can’t look much into that and I’m expecting a very tough fight tomorrow.
“It would be great to get it, [a stoppage] but I’m not going to go looking for it. He’s a very tough man.
“I’ve done that mistake in the past looking for knockouts, especially against [Francesco] Patera it didn’t come, so just stick to boxing and when Neil tells me to put my foot on the gas that’s what I’ll do.”
Thomas Patrick Ward (29-0, 4 KOs), who is also closing in on a world title birth of his own, weighed in an ounce heavier than late replacement Thomas Essomba at 8st 11lbs 3oz.
Former English Bantamweight champion, Essomba (10-6, 4 KOs) steps up a weight and fights just seven weeks after a unanimous decision loss to Sunny Edwards.
Benwell favourite Joe Laws (9-0, 5 KOs) donned a Mexican wrestling mask coupled with a cigar, as he came in at 10st 6lbs 9oz, heavier than unbeaten opponent Rylan Charlton (5-0-1, 2 KOs) who weighed 10st 4lbs 4oz for their Welterweight clash.
Featherweight Ellie Scotney, who makes her long-awaited professional debut weighed exactly the same as Bec Connolly (3-7) at 8st 13lbs 2oz.
Qais Ashfaq (8-0, 3 KOs) weighed in just an ounce lighter than former sparring partner Marc Leach (14-1-1, 3 KOs) at 8st 9lbs 7oz, with Leech making weight at the second attempt for their British title eliminator.
Savannah Marshall’s WBO Middleweight world title clash against Hannah Rankin was postponed on Wednesday, after Marshall’s trainer Peter Fury tested positive for COVID-19.
Just added:
Kane Baker fights @TonyBellew‘s charge @Shack_Speares tomorrow night over six rounds 💥#BakerSpeare #RitsonVazquez pic.twitter.com/5Pp2zshKHS
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) October 16, 2020
It was announced on Friday that Tony Bellew-managed Meshech Speare (5-0, 3 KOs) will face Kane Baker (13-7), who was beaten by Aqib Fiaz 12 days ago, over six rounds at Lightweight
