Richard Riakporhe

Richard Riakporhe is a British heavyweight and the current BBBofC British heavyweight champion. Nicknamed "The Midnight Train," Riakporhe is an orthodox fighter who stands 196 cm with a 196 cm reach and hails from Walworth in London. A former cruiserweight contender, he has compiled a professional record of 20 wins and 1 loss, including 16 stoppage victories. Riakporhe made his professional debut in 2016 and built his foundation on early undercard appearances at venues such as York Hall and The O2 Arena. He established himself as a rising force in the cruiserweight division with a string of stoppage wins before stepping up to regional and international level fights. On the undercard of Usyk vs Bellew in 2018 he captured the WBA Inter-Continental cruiserweight title by stopping Sam Hyde in the eighth round, and he successfully retained that status with a fourth-round TKO of Tommy McCarthy in 2019. Late in 2019 Riakporhe added domestic honours at cruiserweight when he outpointed Jack Massey to win the British cruiserweight title (BBBofC) in a 12-round decision. He continued to move through notable opponents, claiming the WBC Silver cruiserweight title with a fifth-round TKO of Olanrewaju Durodola in November 2021 and recording stoppage wins over the likes of Deion Jumah, Fabio Turchi and former world-level contender Krzysztof Głowacki between 2022 and 2023. Riakporhe’s first attempted step onto the world stage came in June 2024 when he challenged Chris Billam‑Smith for the WBO world cruiserweight title at Selhurst Park; Riakporhe lost that 12-round decision, the only defeat on his record. After that world-title bid he elected to move up to heavyweight, debuting in the division in May 2025 with a fourth-round RTD victory on the Canelo vs Scull undercard in Riyadh. He followed that with a second-round TKO win on the Eubank Jr. vs Benn II undercard in November 2025. The move to heavyweight culminated in April 2026 when Riakporhe stopped Jeamie Tshikeva in the fifth round on the Fury vs Makhmudov undercard at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to claim the BBBofC British heavyweight title. That victory established him as a domestic heavyweight champion and positioned him as a notable figure in the British heavyweight ranks. Riakporhe remains active and recognized for his power — 16 of his 20 wins came by KO/TKO/RTD — and for his progression from a domestic cruiserweight prospect into a national heavyweight titleholder.