He should have been, yes. Ritson was however, banging everyone out at the time and the Sky/Hearn hyped boys are usually fancied by the bookies. Taylor was still not a world champ then I think and he wasn’t fighting on Sky just yet so the number of people that would throw money on him would be diminished. Every Geordie and his nan, along with Eddie’s followers would have been lumping on Ritson and Taylor‘a odds would have came in. You can get some amazing odds on fights like this Price Allen and Groves Eubank style.
Illness? I reckon they saw Lundy and saw he looked fit and well and Team Ritsons backsides fell out. A prolapse situation.
People talk about "British level" or only "European level" as if that's something to laugh at. Do you know how hard it is to win a British title? Do you realize just how difficult or talented you need to be to reach the European level? Obviously, a big slice of luck is needed along the way but yeah! If it was any other profession and someone said "you will be the best at what you do in Britain or Europe" they would wear that with pride.
It was after the prograis fight the talk was about him fighting ritson so 1/10 may even be a bit generous tbh.