Boxing Apr 30, 2026

Richard Riakporhe: 'You can see in my aura I’m very serious about doing real damage in the heavyweight division'

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Richard Riakporhe: 'You can see in my aura I’m very serious about doing real damage in the heavyweight division'

Richard Riakporhe will push for a world title shot at heavyweight.

The Londoner, a former cruiserweight world title challenger, became the British heavyweight champion with a crunching stoppage victory over Jeamie TKV on Tyson Fury's undercard at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Riakporhe considers that a warning shot to the rest of the weight class.

"I think that's what makes me more exciting as an addition to the heavyweight division," Riakporhe told Your Site.

"They want to see knockouts. Let's be real. Let's be honest. They want to see exciting knockouts, powerful punches being thrown, where you want to come and take your time, spend your money to visit a stadium and see a real fighter throw shots and is game.

"You can see in my aura and just in my body language, I'm very serious about doing real damage in this division."

The British title in the heavyweight division has often launched fighters into world level competition. That's where Riakporhe's ambitions extend.

"I want a title fight," he said. "I'm really interested to see who wins with Daniel Dubois and [WBO champion Fabio] Wardley. Everybody's waiting to see what's going on with [Oleksandr] Usyk. I want one of them titles.

"I feel like now there's a new crop of fighters coming through and we're just waiting for our chance. It's risky for them well established guys to fight us. We're dangerous, we're hungry, anything can happen. I don't think it's smart. So give up the belts so we can fight!"

There isn't a clear path necessarily for him to go straight into a championship fight, but he hopes to get the chance.

"I'm just navigating the seas for opportunities," he said. "The landscape is always changing. The only thing I can do is be ready.

"Every single day now is adding towards me becoming champion," he continued. "I know what it takes. I've been in the game for a while and I've seen many people come to the gym, I've seen people be at the top and I've seen them go. I've seen it all.

"That's why I just sit down and I do my thing and I know sooner or later you're going to see me at the top because I know exactly what's going on and I understand the system.

"We're trying to push towards a world title fight."

Tags:

boxing news

Share this article

Related Posts

Dalton Smith ruled out of WBC super-lightweight title defence against Alberto Puello after suffering injury in training camp

Dalton Smith ruled out of WBC super-lightweight title defence against Alberto Puello after suffering injury in training camp

Dalton Smith has been ruled out of his WBC super-lightweight title defence against Alberto Puello after he sustained an injury in camp.The fight was s...

Chris Billam-Smith to fight Ryan Rozicki live on Sky Sports on June 6 in Bournemouth on Zuffa Boxing's first UK card

Chris Billam-Smith to fight Ryan Rozicki live on Sky Sports on June 6 in Bournemouth on Zuffa Boxing's first UK card

Chris Billam-Smith returns to Bournemouth on June 6 to fight Ryan Rozicki, live on Your Site.It will be the first British event for new promotional po...

Tiara Brown and Oshae Jones to make world title defences against Hannah Rapp and Elia Carranza on June 13 MVP bill

Tiara Brown and Oshae Jones to make world title defences against Hannah Rapp and Elia Carranza on June 13 MVP bill

Tiara Brown and Oshae Jones will put their world championships on the line against Hannah Rapp and Elia Carranza on June 13 at Caribe Royale Resort in...

Deontay Wilder not contacted for Anthony Joshua fight: ‘Can’t be disappointed about something that never was’

Deontay Wilder not contacted for Anthony Joshua fight: ‘Can’t be disappointed about something that never was’

Deontay Wilder will not lament missing out on a potential bout with Anthony Joshua once again.America's Wilder, the former WBC world heavyweight champ...

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury showdown could take place in UK as Eddie Hearn reveals talks enter final stages

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury showdown could take place in UK as Eddie Hearn reveals talks enter final stages

An all‑British heavyweight showdown in the United Kingdom is moving closer to reality, with promoter Eddie Hearn revealing plans are advancing for Ant...

Justis Huni expects to have future Moses Itauma fight 'somewhere along the line' | '100 per cent we're going to meet'

Justis Huni expects to have future Moses Itauma fight 'somewhere along the line' | '100 per cent we're going to meet'

Moses Itauma has the date and venue for his next fight – July 25 at the O2 Arena in London – but is waiting for his opponent to be confirmed.Justis Hu...