Richard Riakporhe Predicts Perfect Night Against Chris Billam-Smith

Richard Riakporhe is keen to point out that he has never turned down a fight.

Even though he might have fought for the IBF and WBA titles by now, the 17-0 (13 KOs) 34-year-old will get his first shot at a world title when he takes on WBO champion Chris Billam-Smith on Saturday at London’s Selhurst Park.

There had been speculation that Riakporhe might fight the likes of Jai Opetaia or Arsen Goulamirian – who has since lost his belt to Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez – but he will challenge Billam-Smith as his mandatory opponent.

“Just to clarify, I didn’t turn any fight down,” Riakporhe said, bristling, when asked about the fights that had not happened. “I wanted to fight all of the best cruiserweights in the world and I made a call-out after I fought Krzysztof Glowacki, and that was a genuine call-out. It wasn’t no act.

“I want to prove myself and I’ve always had that type of mentality, because I believe I’m the best. That whole politics [of boxing] is a lot to do with the powers-that-be and it was completely out of my hands, and it was one of them ones where I had to sit back and wait for another opportunity. But I told everybody I want to fight everybody. I backed myself, just so you know. There were some days where we were pretty much stuck in limbo and we wanted things to progress quicker, but I remember, even when I had an injury, things were going to turn out how they’re meant to be.”

Riakporhe is ambitious. He wants to win belts at 200 pounds and then move up in weight. He also believes he is building a following and that, despite boxing “at home” in Crystal Palace in front of his own fans, his supporters will outnumber the significant travelling contingent Billam-Smith is expected to bring up from Bournemouth.

“No. He’s not going to have more fans than me there,” Riakporhe said. “I heard he will maybe bring 3,000, 4,000 Bournemouth supporters, but I heard within the first hour of going on sale, three to four thousand were sold to Palace fans alone.”

Riakporhe has designs on WBC bridgerweight titleholder Lawrence Okolie, but his dreams extend far beyond that.

“I want to challenge for the heavyweight world title. That’s my dream,” he explained. “That’s one of my goals. That’s on the list. That would be very special for me.”

Does that mean it is hard for him to make 200 pounds?

“It’s not tough, but we have to cut weight,” Riakporhe added. “I’m 6 feet, 5 inches, I’ve got a big frame. I can easily put on weight, and my walking-around weight is heavy.”

There is time, he hopes, to unify and fight the boxers some felt he had missed out on.

“That’s also an opportunity. I think that would be good to set the record straight,” he added. “A lot of people believe Opetaia is the best in the world, so I love being the underdog, coming into the fights and proving people wrong. I’ve tried to do it through my career, so I’d like to see the look on their faces when I do it.”

Riakporhe talks with a sense of destiny, but he has a man in form in front of him on Saturday. There was not much between them five years ago, but Riakporhe feels it is now his time.

“Even back in those years when I was inactive … I’ve always had that type of belief. Deep down, and it’s happening now,” Riakporhe said. “Now I’ve got my shot, at my home ground. Things just work out for me in the best way.

“The time is now. The platform has been made. This is my time. I believe this is my time and it’s going to go perfectly.”