LEWIS RITSON is targeting a World title fight at St James’ Park after producing a career-best display in front of his hometown fans on Saturday night.

Ritson outpointed Robbie Davies Jnr in a fiercely-fought WBA super lightweight title eliminator at a raucous Newcastle Arena.

The 26-year-old Geordie, nicknamed ‘Sandman’, pulled ahead in the closing rounds to earn a unanimous verdict thanks to scores of 117-112, 116-112, 116-112.

The victory is the biggest of his career to date, and paves the way for a potential WBA World Super Lightweight showdown with the winner of Josh Taylor’s contest with defending champion Regis Prograis at London’s O2 Arena this weekend.

Promoter Eddie Hearn has lined up Ritson to take on either Taylor or Prograis, and having developed a fanatical following on his native Tyneside, the North-Easterner is hoping the contest will take place at St James’ Park.

“I showed people I can box, and I showed people I’ve got an engine over 12 rounds,” said Ritson, in the wake of his weekend success. “This is redemption for me (after losing to Francesco Patera at Newcastle Arena 12 months ago), but it takes two to tango and Robbie did his part throughout the whole thing.

“If Eddie’s right, then I’ve got a life-changing fight next at St James’ Park with Josh Taylor or (Regis) Prograis. Happy days.”

Ritson had to dig deep to see off Davies, with both fighters trading powerful blows in the early rounds. Davies suffered an injured nose in the third round, but hit back hard in rounds four and five to leave the judges’ scorecards fairly level at the halfway stage.

Ritson began to take the initiative in rounds seven and eight, with his accurate left hands causing damage, and he exploded into life again in the tenth, rocking Davies back onto the ropes.

The final round was a thrilling affair, with both fighters punching themselves to a virtual standstill, but by the time the final bell rang, Ritson’s superiority was undeniable.

He proved he could handle the step up in weight to super lightweight, and could be set for one of the biggest domestic fights of next year if Scotland’s Taylor, the current IBF World champion, sees off WBA belt holder Prograis in London this weekend.

“I never expected Ritson to come out with such a performance, with such strength, determination at the weight he stepped up,” said Johnny Nelson, who was a pundit for this weekend’s fight with Sky Sports. “He bullied his way through at certain times of the fight, and boxed as well.

“For us here on home turf, a fight with Taylor would be a massive fight. That’s the fight you’d like to see.

“Styles wise, I think these boys can produce both. They can fight, they can box, they can entertain, and I think it will be a great clash of styles with him and Taylor.”

Earlier on the card, Hartlepool’s Savannah Marshall stayed on course for a future World title fight of her own as she maintained her unbeaten professional record with a clinical demolition of Ashleigh Curry.

Marshall, a former amateur World champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist, dominated from the outset, with her American opponent conceding defeat in the third round when her corner threw in the towel.

It was the ‘Silent Assassin’s’ eighth professional victory, and saw her pepper Curry with a series of aggressive body shots from the off.

Marshall almost got the job done in the second round, with Curry struggling to withstand a barrage of combination blows, but the fight came to an end in the third as her relentless attacking eventually told.

“It’s so hard in this division – the next step up is for World championships,” said Hearn. “It’s now time to see what Savannah Marshall is all about – she has to fight for a World title next.”

North-Easterner Joe Laws also extended his unbeaten record to eight victories on the undercard, securing an exciting points win over Justice Addy at welterweight.