BoxRec

Richard Riakporhe is set to return to the ring before the end of the year.

The WBA Inter-Continental cruiserweight champion (10-0, 8 KOs) was last in action in the summer.

And the UK capital looks like being the setting for his return on December 19, exclusively live on Sky Sports and DAZN.

He is expected to be confirmed as the headline act for a JDNXTGEN card at Bethnal Green’s iconic York Hall venue on December 19 on which he will face Jack Massey for the vacant British title at 200lbs.

The belt was most recently held by Lawrence Okolie, who has since won European honours and relinquished the crown.

The show has yet to be formally revealed by Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing, but Boxing Scene understands that the Riakporhe vs. Massey fight will be flanked by a whole host of the best British talent.



Donte Dixon, who made his debut last month and is managed by Billy Joe Saunders in conjunction with MTK Global, will feature alongside Fabio Wardley –– another man managed by the aforementioned Whyte –– and Shannon Courtenay.

Charles Frankham will return to the ring for the first time since May and Eddie Hearn has also mentioned the possibility that the card could feature a vacant British light-heavyweight title showdown between Craig Richards and Shakan Pitters, who holds the English title, while British super-welterweight king Scott Fitzgerald –– who outpointed Ted Cheeseman at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle last month –– could box for the final time this year before a potential mouthwatering rematch against Liverpool’s Anthony Fowler at Deepdale, the home of his beloved Preston North End Football Club.

Further details will be revealed in due course.

By Elliot Foster

Decent match this, I think 'One Smack' has a lot of potential and will certainly test Riakporhe.

milpool wrote: ↑08 Nov 2019, 08:47 Decent match this, I think 'One Smack' has a lot of potential and will certainly test Riakporhe.

Like Sam Hyde did..

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑08 Nov 2019, 09:03

milpool wrote: ↑08 Nov 2019, 08:47 Decent match this, I think 'One Smack' has a lot of potential and will certainly test Riakporhe.

Like Sam Hyde did..

Hyde was winning the fight to be fair.


I dread to think about a fight between Riakpor and Okolie. The pair of them foul so much it would be who can avoid disqualification first.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑08 Nov 2019, 09:03

milpool wrote: ↑08 Nov 2019, 08:47 Decent match this, I think 'One Smack' has a lot of potential and will certainly test Riakporhe.

Like Sam Hyde did..

If I racall correctly Hyde was giving Riakporhe a bit of a going over until the eye injury.

Riakporhe and his team claimed it was his power and will to win that turned the fight around, but that's nonsense, he got lucky.

Regardless, this is a solid fight, but should be on an undercard of a bigger show, not as a headline for another crappy next gen show.

Those things have played their own small part in the recent decline in quality of Sky's domestic content.

jameswilson wrote: ↑08 Nov 2019, 10:26

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑08 Nov 2019, 09:03

Like Sam Hyde did..

Hyde was winning the fight to be fair.


I dread to think about a fight between Riakpor and Okolie. The pair of them foul so much it would be who can avoid disqualification first.

I'd rather sit and watch my nan finger herself than that

Live on Sky Sports on December 19

Richard Riakporhe and Jack Massey will clash for the vacant British cruiserweight title at the top of a JD NXTGEN show at the famous York Hall in east London on Thursday December 19, live on Sky Sports.

Big-hitting Riakporhe (10-0, 8 KOs) went the distance for only the second time of his career in July as he outpointed undefeated and highly-rated Bournemouth prospect Chris Billam-Smith in a close battle at The O2 in London to retain his WBA intercontinental title.

Massey (16-0, 8 KOs) is firing on all cylinders again after an arm injury ruled him out of his July British and Commonwealth title clash with Lawrence Okolie, and 'One Smack' says he is ready to propel his name to the top of the domestic cruiserweight scene in his first major title shot.

"I'm over the moon to be fighting for the British title at the top of a bill at York Hall," said Riakporhe. "I've been looking forward to this opportunity for a long time and now it's here I need to grab it with both hands.

"Jack is a decent opponent. I heard that he beat Chris Billam-Smith in the amateurs so he should have a good pedigree. He's unbeaten in the professional ranks with a strong record so this should be a decent test for me.

"I think Jack will come to fight and he'll go for it, but I'll be too strong for him and I'll have too much will and determination - I'm going to light him up like a Christmas tree. A win here could lead to even bigger opportunities and I know what I have to do."

Massey said: "I'm in the best shape of my life and I feel great. I've had a few setbacks recently, but they've made me even hungrier for this opportunity. I've got to come away with that British title on the night and I'll give my all for it.

"This has got the makings of a great fight, we're both big punchers and we both know how to finish a fight. This will be my first time fighting at York Hall so it's even more special for me. It's a prestigious place to fight and a prestigious belt to win so there's a lot on the line - a win would be massive for me."

Elsewhere on the card fast-rising Ipswich heavyweight Fabio Wardley (8-0, 7 KOs) continues his march towards a first title shot as he takes on Middlesbrough's Simon Vallily (16-2-1, 7 KOs), Bracknell welterweight Luther Clay (12-1, 5 KOs) defends his WBO global welterweight title against Freddy Kiwitt (17-2, 10 KOs) and Northampton super-welterweight Keiron Conway (13-1-1, 3 KOs) continues to work towards another shot at the British title.

Watford bantamweight Shannon Courtenay (4-0, 1 KO) keeps active with her fifth outing of the year, Crowthorne super-featherweight Charles Frankham (2-0, 1 KO) returns, Leeds super-bantamweight Hopey Price (1-0) looks to build on his successful pro debut in Manchester and Billy Joe Saunders-managed lightweight Donte Dixon from Sheffield seeks his second victory in the paid ranks.

Sky Sports head of boxing Adam Smith said: "We're bringing you a pre-Christmas cracker as Richard Riakporhe battles Jack Massey for the British title on another exciting JD NXTGEN bill.

"Riakporhe has emerged as an explosive contender - and next comes up against the well-schooled Massey in a high quality encounter for that coveted Lonsdale belt.

"Shannon Courtenay, Fabio Wardley, Charles Frankham are also back in action at York Hall as we extend our powerful schedule in 2019."

Promoter Eddie Hearn added: "I'm delighted to be returning to the famous York Hall on December 19 for a Christmas cracker of a JD NXTGEN show topped by the British cruiserweight title showdown between undefeated prospects Richard Riakporhe and Jack Massey."

"Riakporhe is quickly establishing himself as one of the most feared cruiserweights on the domestic scene and secured an impressive breakout win over Chris Billam-Smith last time out. Massey has been waiting for an opportunity like this for a while and finally lands his big chance after the disappointment of his summer injury. Some of the best up-and-coming talents in the country will be looking to impress on the undercard with all of the action shown live on Sky Sports."

Anyone going to this?

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑09 Dec 2019, 10:30 Anyone going to this?

I'd rather be gang raped by a team of paratroopers

Stuarty wrote: ↑09 Dec 2019, 12:15

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑09 Dec 2019, 10:30 Anyone going to this?

I'd rather be gang raped by a team of paratroopers

You wanna organise that? Haha bit of a trek for you anyway. I was thinking anyone more local..

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑09 Dec 2019, 12:47

Stuarty wrote: ↑09 Dec 2019, 12:15

I'd rather be gang raped by a team of paratroopers

You wanna organise that? Haha bit of a trek for you anyway. I was thinking anyone more local..

Stuarty wrote: ↑08 Nov 2019, 11:45

jameswilson wrote: ↑08 Nov 2019, 10:26

Hyde was winning the fight to be fair.


I dread to think about a fight between Riakpor and Okolie. The pair of them foul so much it would be who can avoid disqualification first.

I'd rather sit and watch my nan finger herself than that

Plenty of tickets left for this one..

https://www.stubhub.co.uk/matchroom-box ... c&tktbkt=1

keirw wrote: ↑08 Nov 2019, 11:34

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑08 Nov 2019, 09:03

Like Sam Hyde did..

If I racall correctly Hyde was giving Riakporhe a bit of a going over until the eye injury.

Riakporhe and his team claimed it was his power and will to win that turned the fight around, but that's nonsense, he got lucky.

Regardless, this is a solid fight, but should be on an undercard of a bigger show, not as a headline for another crappy next gen show.

Those things have played their own small part in the recent decline in quality of Sky's domestic content.

Is it ?
He got a bit lucky, but I thought his 'power and will to win' made his own luck ?

skanksta wrote: ↑13 Dec 2019, 13:00

keirw wrote: ↑08 Nov 2019, 11:34
If I racall correctly Hyde was giving Riakporhe a bit of a going over until the eye injury.

Riakporhe and his team claimed it was his power and will to win that turned the fight around, but that's nonsense, he got lucky.

Regardless, this is a solid fight, but should be on an undercard of a bigger show, not as a headline for another crappy next gen show.

Those things have played their own small part in the recent decline in quality of Sky's domestic content.

Is it ?
He got a bit lucky, but I thought his 'power and will to win' made his own luck ?

Thanks.
I know Sam WAS winning. He deserves a rematch and that'd be a good watch.
Just think that RR's "power and will to win" would probably pull him through again.

skanksta wrote: ↑13 Dec 2019, 13:00

keirw wrote: ↑08 Nov 2019, 11:34
If I racall correctly Hyde was giving Riakporhe a bit of a going over until the eye injury.

Riakporhe and his team claimed it was his power and will to win that turned the fight around, but that's nonsense, he got lucky.

Regardless, this is a solid fight, but should be on an undercard of a bigger show, not as a headline for another crappy next gen show.

Those things have played their own small part in the recent decline in quality of Sky's domestic content.

Is it ?
He got a bit lucky, but I thought his 'power and will to win' made his own luck ?

If he landed a bomb and knocked Hyde out I wouldn't even call it luck, I would give him full credit for the win.

But he won because of a bit of swelling that was caused by punches that had no other effect on Hyde.

For me, he was lucky. Had Hyde not been susceptible to swelling Riakpore would not have won that fight as he lacked the skill to outbox Hyde, or the power to knock him out conventionally.

Good dust up this, its a step up for Massey, apart from Tims he hasn't fought anyone so interesting to see how he copes, Riakporhe is on a good run of form, beating Hyde, McCarthy and Billam-Smith and Massey another good domestic opponent, only 1 loss between his 4 opponents so fair play, I fancy him to add another unbeaten scalp to his record here

Did Ricky have much of an amateur background?

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑16 Dec 2019, 15:18 Did Ricky have much of an amateur background?

Think he did mate. I remember reading that he knocked a lot of people out in the ams... Could've been in Olympic qualifiers but went to uni...

Starts at 1pm..