Boxing
Richard Riakporhe prays for Jeamie TKV ahead of his British title fight
Published
1 month agoon
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.
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With Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao set to rematch in September, Mayweather’s former rival Marcos Maidana shared his thoughts on the fight.
In 2014, Maidana was defeated twice by the great American, and the first of the two fights was considered one of the few situations in which a decision could result in a “TBE” failure. officially defeating “El Chino” by majority decision.
Their second meeting was more convincing and proved to be Maidan’s last appearance as a professional, while Mayweather went on to fight the biggest fight of his career and defeat arch-rival Pacquiao the following year.
Now, 11 years after the event, Mayweather is set to end his nine-year hiatus and fight the Filipino icon for the second time. with the Friday, September 25 date currently advertised.
Though others consider the fight controversial due to the age of both legends, Maidana said Fighting Hub TV that there are no problems with the competition.
“[I think it is] Good. They can still be in boxing and if they can fight, there’s nothing wrong with them fighting.
As for the fight itself, Maidana predicted a similar outcome to their 2015 meeting, with Mayweather’s style remaining unmatched as he improves his legendary record to 51-0.
“I think it will be the same, maybe a little slower because they are a little bigger, but I think the way they both fight will be the same.”
In addition to the fight with Pacquiao, Mayweather is also scheduled to fight an exhibition fight with Greek kickboxer Mike Zambidis in June.
Boxing
O’Shaquie Foster says Richardson Hitchins is ‘scary as hell’
Published
3 hours agoon
May 13, 2026
O’Shaquie Foster took his feud with Richardson Hitchins to another level this week, accusing the former IBF junior welterweight champion of being afraid of sparring and questioning his durability during a lengthy interview ahead of Foster’s May 30 title defense against Raymond Ford.
Foster slammed Hitchins, claiming that people in boxing have been questioning Hitchins’ mentality for years.
“Hitchins is scary as hell. I knew it. That’s what they say in boxing,” Foster said on Sean Zittel’s YouTube page. “They must have pumped him up with some sparring sessions. He knew what I was talking about. They had to put a wrench in his back so he could go to sparring and so on.”
Foster then mentioned that Hitchins was withdrawing from his scheduled fight against Oscar Duarte on the day of the competition in February.
“He has heart problems. It’s not a physical heart problem. He just doesn’t have a heart. See what he did to Duarte? Why am I worried about Hitchins? He’s so terrible,” Foster said.
Hitchins later responded to Foster’s X with a miniature response of his own.
“I’ve got a lot more heart than that alien pussy in my ass, nigga.”
The latest exchange comes just hours after Foster mocked Hitchins over his Olympic path and his past ties to Subriel Matias.
Foster blamed Hitchins for not making the U.S. Olympic team before he later represented Haiti at the 2016 Olympics. Hitchins previously lost out on U.S. selection to Gary Antuanne Russell before qualifying for international play in Haiti via Olympic qualifying.
This exchange added unexpected warmth to an otherwise serene week in boxing, especially since both fighters weren’t even fighting in the same division. Foster is the 130-pound world champion, and Hitchins recently won the 140-pound belt.
Still, both fighters come from the Recent York boxing scene, know each other’s amateur history, and now seem fully committed to turning their social media spats into something much more personal.

Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fighting landscape. His reports focus on the most crucial fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
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Last update: 2026/05/13 at 22:39
Boxing
Naoya Inoue offered an immediate title fight in a fresh weight class: “I’m already ready”
Published
5 hours agoon
May 13, 2026
Naoya Inoue recently cemented his status as one of, if not the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world with a win over compatriot Junto Nakatani. The question is, can anyone defeat him before he hangs up his gloves?
The Japanese phenom defended his four super bantamweight belts for the seventh time in a fight against Nakatani at the sold-out Tokyo Domemaintaining his undefeated record in what many considered to be the toughest test of his career to date.
With retirement not too far away, the undisputed two-division champion is looking to tackle one more weight class before it’s time for a Hall of Fame campaign. Ready and willing to fight at 126 pounds is Bruce Carrington from Brooklyn.
I’m talking to ES Newsthe WBC featherweight champion said that watching Nakatani fight only confirmed his belief that he was capable of defeating “The Monster”.
“Honestly, I’ve seen a lot of things that I can’t say here. I’m ready. Inoue is still a spectacular fighter, but I know I have what it takes to beat him. Nakatani is no slouch. I expected a good fight… he did everything he had to do to win.”
“Shu Shu,” who won the vacant title against Carlos Castro in January and will return to the ring to defend it against Rene Palacios in July, then said he would take the fight to Inoue as soon as it was offered to him.
“100%. I’m ready now, I’m ready today, I’m ready tomorrow, I’m ready whenever. Come to the Shu Shu show, baby. I can’t wait to share the ring with you. It’s going to be fireworks.”
Inoue made his plans clear – to fight once again at super bantamweight, most likely against Jesse Rodriguez, and then move up to featherweight, which he said would be the final challenge of his career. Although he did not mention Carrington’s name, the 33-year-old says he wants to take the belt straight away.
As a long-reigning champion and heavyweight star who is gaining more and more importance, sanctioning authorities would likely have no problem approving such a possibility.
However, many fans will believe that “Bam” Rodriguez can thwart these plans. The 26-year-old is expected to move up to bantamweight to fight for Antonio Vargas’ WBA title, with the fight against Inoue taking place in early 2027.
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