EDDIE HEARN is ready to deliver Lewis Ritson a World title fight at St James’ Park in 2019, provided the Geordie fighter continues his meteoric rise through the ranks.

Ritson returns to the ring in Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena tomorrow, taking on Belgian Francesco Patera for the European Lightweight title.

Having already claimed the British title outright, tomorrow’s contest represents another step up the ladder for Forest Hall-based Ritson, a talented 25-year-old who boasts a 17-0 record since making his professional debut in 2015.

His decision to join Hearn’s Matchroom operation has helped transform his career, but while tomorrow’s bill will be screened live on Sky Sports, he is already setting his sights much higher than merely topping the bill at Newcastle Arena.

As a passionate Newcastle United fan, who boxes in the club’s colours, Ritson dreams of fighting in front of 50,000 fans at St James’ Park, and having staged a number of stadium shows in the last couple of years, Hearn sees no reason why such a fight should not take place. First, though, Ritson has to confirm his potential by seeing off Patera.

“We’re so lucky at the moment in British boxing that we’re even talking about it,” said Hearn. “Callum Smith won the World title recently. We’d like him to return home to Anfield in May. Lewis Ritson can fill St James’ Park for a World title fight. He’s done 9,000 for a European title fight.

“We’ve seen Kell Brook boxing at Bramall Lane, Anthony Joshua at the Millennium Stadium and Wembley. These dreams can become reality.

“You just have to keep winning, you have to keep progressing and being involved in those big World-level fights. From what I’ve seen in Newcastle, there’s no reason why St James’ Park couldn’t become a reality in 2019.”

Darlington’s Stuart Hall become only the second North-Easterner ever to win a World title when he saw off South African Vusi Malinga in Leeds in December 2013, and Ritson looks to have every chance of making it three North-East champions within the next couple of years.

Combining speed and agility with a deceptively-powerful punch, the ‘Sandman’ ended things in the first round in his last outing, knocking out the previously-unbeaten Paul Hyland Jnr.

Tomorrow’s bout should be more of a contest, with Patera having won 19 of his 22 professional fights, seven via a knockout. However, the Belgian was beaten by unheralded Finnish fighter Edis Tatli when he attempted to defend the EBU European Lightweight title in Helsinki last December, and it would be a huge surprise if he was to inflict Ritson’s first defeat.

“I’ve seen him do a couple of interviews saying that he’s not going to stand and trade,” which is probably clever on his part,” said Ritson. “I’m expecting a hard fight, for him to use his experience, and for him to try to go the 12 rounds. We’re going to try and get him out of there.”

Ritson will have at least one familiar face at ringside, with former Newcastle United skipper Alan Shearer set to turn up to provide some support.

Shearer will be attending his first professional boxing bout, and shares a common bond with Ritson as they were both previously members of the famed Wallsend Boys Club.

“When I was a young boy, playing at Wallsend Boys Club, it taught me a lot,” said Shearer. “Lewis played there as well, and some of that discipline will no doubt have rubbed off on to his game.

“What I would say to Lewis is the easy part is getting to the top, but the hard part is staying there. He’ll have the money, house, holidays and car. The opponents will know more about him and the level is only going to get tougher. It’s not easy, and he’ll have to probably come through some tricky moments, but he’s got a great team around him.

“I’ll be there ringside, and will be the first one to lead the songs when the Blaydon Races comes on.”

Ritson’s European title fight heads up a packed bill that will also see rising light-heavyweight star, Joshua Buatsi, make the first defence of his WBA International belt against French fighter Tony Averlant.

Sunderland’s Glenn Foot goes up against Liverpool’s Robbie Davies Jnr for the British and Commonwealth Super-Lightweight titles, while Teessider Simon Vallily takes on Craig Glover over ten rounds.

IBF European Super-Bantamweight champion Thomas Ward will also be in action, along with Newcastle cruiserweight Lawrence Osueke, Benwell super-welterweight Joseph Laws, Spennymoor welterweight Chad Ellis, Newcastle super-lightweight Terry Wilkinson and Bedlington lightweight Darren Reay.