Cruiserweight contender Richard Riakporhe 16-0 (12) has had a rough year.
While old rival Chris Billam-Smith 18-1 (12) lifted the WBO title from Lawrence Okolie 19-1 (14) in May, the 33-year-old Londoner has been relegated to the sidelines since January as his promoter BOXXER tries to land him a world title shot.
For a while it looked like Riakporhe would get that chance. He was in negotiations to face IBF and Ring Magazine champion Jai Opetaia 23-0 (18) but opted instead to chase a fight against WBA titleholder Arsen Goulamirian 27-0 (18) only for that fight to fall through.
“We found out that he had some legal issues with his promoters. The rest is history. We had to move on,” Riakporhe said to Sky Sports. “Energy was high. We thought it was 100 per cent a go. Then we heard he had some issues. It was actually done.
“Once we do get our shot, we’re going to do everything in our power to rip it off whoever’s champion. Literally. They will know. They will know.
“Every single champion, which is why it’s been so complicated getting the shot in the first place. It’s going to be a hard night for every single one of them.
“You will see the displays when that time comes, when I challenge.”
A rematch between Riakporhe and Billam-Smith would be a natural. Four years ago Riakporhe defeated Bournemouth’s Billam-Smith, 33, by split decision over 10.
“If there’s debate about it, we can definitely do it again,” Riakporhe said.
“With that fight it was a close decision. I believe I did enough to win the fight. I was confident that I got the W, even before the scorecards were read out.
“There was one judge that called out the fight in his favour. Apart from that, everybody was in favour of me, because I was showing my strength in there, dictating the fight, initiating, throwing cleaner shots, big shots landing.
“If I was more experienced, I would have knocked him out. Definitely knocked him out. I didn’t really know what I was doing, smothered my work. It was my ninth fight.
“I’m way more mature now. If I hurt you, I should be able to take you out straightaway.”
Riakporhe returns to the ring on Saturday night when he takes on Frenchman Dylan Bregeon 13-4-1 (3) in a marking time bout at the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton, England. The fight will be contested over eight rounds.
“I wouldn’t mind some rounds [against Bregeon],” Riakporhe said. “We always go for the knockout. So if I smell blood, that’s it, the fight’s going to be over in an instant.
“I always go for the knockout. That’s why I stand out from a lot of other fighters.
“It just takes one shot for the fight to finish and that’s what we always want to do and that’s what the fans like to see.
“That’s my gift.”
