Geordie boxing hero Lewis Ritson will make a long awaited return to Newcastle's Utilita Arena on Saturday, October 19.
Ritson will take on bitter domestic rival Robbie Davies Jr in a keenly anticipated super-lightweight bout as Matchroom Boxing return to the region for the first time since October 2018.
That night saw Ritson lose a European lightweight title fight to Belgium's Francesco Patera but he will hope to exorcise those demons on October 19.
'The Sandman' has since moved up in weight and has bounced back with routine wins over German Argentino Benitez and Marek Jedrzejewski.
His bout with Hughes Jr will represent his first significant step up at the new weight and the pair exchanged some heated words in Liverpool earlier this month when they boxed on the same card.
Davies Jr, whose record stands at 19 wins (13 KOs) and one defeat, is the reigning British champion at super-lighweight and is also the former European champion.
It is unclear at this stage whether the 29-year-old Liverpudlian's British strap will be on the line. Ritson rose to prominence after winning the British lightweight title in 2017 and won the Lonsdale Belt after defending the title three times in early 2018 - winning all three of those bouts inside two rounds.
He has twice headlined the Utilita Arena and always commands a deafening atmosphere when he walks out to Newcastle United anthem 'Blaydon Races'.
Matchroom Boxing have revealed ticket details will be announced shortly, as well as the undercard that should be stacked with North East talent.
