Boxing Fight: With his own title shot rapidly approaching, Richard Riakporhe has a message for all of the cruiserweight world champions.
“I don’t blame them for ducking and diving in front of me because I think I’m one of the most dangerous fighters in the world,” Riakporhe said to Sky Sports News.
After defeating Krzysztof Glowacki in January, Riakporhe rose to a high ranking with the organisations that sanction world championships, making a title opportunity seem inevitable.
Lawrence Okolie, the WBO champion, and he already collided. Following an incident at the Creed III premiere in London, the two had to be separated.
“He saw red, he pushed me, and it got into a full uproar,” Okolie previously told Sky Sports.
Riakporhe admits that Okolie made him angry. “I suddenly felt threatened since I just witnessed someone walk up behind me and into my area. I felt, to put it mildly, disrespected. We ended up becoming separated as a result of pushing and shoving, a few hugs, and subsequent events,” explained Riakporhe.
Both are from London and are rival cruiserweights, but Riakporhe won’t fight Okolie until they’re truly competing for at least one world championship.
“It should be OK and courteous [if they meet again] if I don’t feel frightened or disrespectful,” he hoped.
“But I’ll say this: I’ll try my best not to fight outside the ring. I haven’t done it in over ten years, so I don’t believe it will happen.”
Okolie isn’t the only British foe of Riakporhe. Chris Billam-Smith, whom he had previously defeated, has now won British, Commonwealth, and European championships and has rapidly risen in the world rankings.
A rematch with Billam-Smith would be welcomed by Riakporhe. “Absolutely. Chris Billam-Smith has improved greatly in my opinion. He has put on impressive performances, achieved stoppages against respectable opponents, let’s say top 20 fighters in the world,” he said.
“Thus, I would absolutely offer him the chance to exact revenge on me for his defeat. It’s likely to have the same outcome, in my opinion.”
But, Riakporhe resorted to social media to criticise Badou Jack after he defeated Ilunga Makabu on Sunday to earn the WBC cruiserweight championship.
“As I expected, there was absolutely no response,” Riakporhe said.
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