The November 15 rematch between bitter British rivals Chris Eubank Junior and Conor Benn will promote itself, the second grudge-fight between the 2 a struggle followers wish to see, particularly in mild of how thrilling their April struggle, received on factors by Eubank, actually was. However promoter Ben Shalom, who works with Eubank, desires to see some strong undercard motion all the identical.
And one of many extra attention-grabbing supporting matchups Shalom desires to make, is one between Richard Riakporhe and Joe Joyce up at heavyweight. Joyce, who turned 40 simply yesterday, final noticed motion in April, this when he was decisioned by Filip Hrgovic in one other punishing battle, and he’s now 16-4(15); with “The Juggernaut” having received simply one in every of his final 5.
Is Joyce Nonetheless Constructed for Heavyweight Wars?
It stays to be seen if Joyce desires to proceed preventing, however after the gutsy loss to Hrgovic, the previous Olympian mentioned he did intention to take action. Riakporhe, a former cruiserweight who received the British title at 200 kilos and later misplaced to Chris Billam-Smith in a WBO world title problem, made the transfer as much as heavyweight in Might, when he stopped Kevin Espindola. Now, Shalom says “The Midnight Practice” can do some “severe injury” at heavyweight.
“We’re pushing for Richard Riakporhe to be on this (Nov. 15) card,” Shalom mentioned to Ring Journal. “A struggle in opposition to Joe Joyce is a superb British heavyweight struggle. I all the time felt that Richard was a heavyweight. It annoyed me that he couldn’t carry out at cruiserweight anymore – very similar to [Lawarence] Okolie. We bought him again and he regarded sensible out in Riyadh (in opposition to Espindola). I’m excited for him to get into the heavyweight combine. He can do some severe injury now.”
Can Riakporhe Exploit Joyce’s Put on and Tear?
Shalom added how 35 12 months previous Riakporhe, 18-1(14) has been sparring with Martin Bakole. So, who wins if Joyce and Riakporhe do rumble in November? Or possibly you’re feeling Joyce is a warrior who has taken greater than sufficient punches already, and as such he ought to retire.
