Lewis Ritson has admitted it’s about time he moved up in weight as he prepares to face German Argentino Benitez on March 23.
Having suffered the first defeat of his career against Francesco Patera, the Newcastle fighter is moving up to the super-lightweight division for his upcoming encounter with Argentina’s Benitez for the WBA Inter-Continental title.
Related: Ritson Prepared For ‘Long Night’
With the fight at the Copper Box Arena edging closer, Ritson says he is looking forward to moving up in weight and feels he should have made the move before now.
“I probably should have moved up in weight a while ago but I was determined to test myself on the European scene which is why I carried on. There’s no excuses from me though about the last fight,” he said.
“I’ve watched the Patera fight back once and I won’t be doing so again. It was a terrible performance and some of the mistakes I made on the night are inexcusable, but you live and learn.
“[Coach Neil Fannon] said if I don’t get him out of there in the first half of the fight it would be a hard night’s work but I went in there with the mentality of just blasting him away early, like I had done to the previous couple of opponents, which was wrong.
It’s opened my eyes and we’ve been working on my all-round game since.”
