Since moving up to heavyweight, Richard Riakporhe has become acutely aware of the immense power he now possesses in each of his fists.

He was obviously a devastating cruiserweight puncher, except now he had an extra 30 pounds left that could be used to generate the force needed for a dramatic finish.

Combining this with his natural speed, Riakporhe began to almost fear the devastating effect his punches might have on future opponents.

In fact, before he defeated Tommy Welch in his last outing, “The Midnight Train” predicted the outcome would be much worse than just a second-round stoppage.

In an interview with Boxing News, he recalled his outstanding performance last November, while expressing concern for the safety of his opponents.

“I definitely feel a lot more powerful. Once you have more weight on you and start shooting, it’s going to have a much bigger impact.

“That’s why when I prepare for a fight, I always pray for my opponents, I don’t want to be in a situation where sedate damage will be done.

“Before my last fight, I had a dream that I did sedate damage to my opponent, so I was joyful that he left the ring in one piece.

“I know what I’m doing in the gym; I know what I’m capable of. That’s why you see me serene and focused during these processes.”

Following this pattern, the next person Riakporhe needs to pray for will be Jeamie TKV, whom he will face on April 11 in the Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov match.

But while he appreciates his knockout power, the Londoner ultimately believes his speed is a key advantage over heavyweights like TKV.

“[Speed is] everything that I really focus on. The other day I was sparring with Pat Brown, who is a super rapid cruiserweight, so being able to compete with him gives me more and more confidence.

“I always tell people that it’s good to have power, but power is overrated. Speed ​​and timing are everything.

“When you’re fighting someone rapid and you can’t do anything to counter them or respond, you almost feel like you’re disabled; it’s like you’re disabled.”

Since moving to Scotland, where he trains with head coach Billy Nelson, Riakporhe has noticed a few differences from his previous setup in Loughborough.

More specifically, there is less emphasis on video analysis and a more old-school vibe to his camps, encouraging him to make changes on the fly.

“Once you understand how to adapt, you can handle most things. For me, it’s not complicated.

“A lot of people these days are using video analytics and waiting [for their opponent to throw] one type of shot so they can react and respond to it.

“What if they’re waiting for the shot and it never comes? That’s why I like the old-school vibe: I just go in there and deal with what’s in front of you.”

In front of Riakporhe at the London Tottenham Hotspur Stadium there will be a TKVwho won the British title in November with a split decision victory over Frazer Clarke.

Riakporhe, who previously held the Lonsdale 200-pound belt, is looking forward to repeating his success in the land of giants.

“I can add something else to my legacy: becoming a two-time British champion. That’s certainly something to complain about and admire.”

While TKV represents a powerful opponent, Riakporhe is also confident that Clarke, his former stablemate, would have beaten the 32-year-old were it not for his apparent lack of top-level preparation.

“I feel like Frazer would have done a lot better if he hadn’t had some issues in camp, but even though he was fighting a completely different game plan [to what he should have]it was still a very close decision.

“So I see [TKV] as the next opponent in the history of Riakporhe. He’s a tough opponent and shouldn’t be underestimated, but what matters is how Riakporhe deals with him.”

Heavyweight Riakporhe is just one win away from getting a gigantic shot, but first he must become a two-time British champion against TKV this Saturday.