Richard Riakporhe has been getting ready for Saturday’s rematch with Chris Billam-Smith for over 18 months.
On Saturday at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park they contest Billam-Smith’s WBO cruiserweight title, conscious that 5 years have handed since they beforehand fought.
Riakporhe, like Billam-Smith aged 34, received through break up determination after 10 aggressive rounds on that event – inflicting the defending champion’s solely ever defeat – and has watched from afar whereas his rival has since constantly improved.
It’s as Billam-Smith’s necessary challenger that he enters his highest-profile struggle, and he does so within the perception that Billam-Smith has little want to struggle him once more.
Because the fighter from south London they’re additionally combating on what he considers to be his territory, presenting him with a possible benefit on an event he finally considers overdue.
“I’ve needed this struggle for a really very long time,” he stated. “We’ve been making an attempt to make this struggle since simply earlier than [stopping, in January 2023, Krzysztof] Glowacki. I assumed that may have been good for us simply to see the place we’re at, as a result of we beat him earlier than, we improved rather a lot; we improved vastly, and everyone in my crew believed that we may beat him. Correctly.
“It was a kind of issues the place we had been difficult ourselves, however sadly they wasn’t actually . They needed to go for the title and stuff, and in the long run it paid off anyway. However now we’re right here, it’s good – we will nonetheless do what we deliberate to do.
“The reality is we’re not making an attempt simply to be a world champion. That’s not what we got here to do. That’s part of the journey. We wanna do way more, and there’s laborious fights; there’s laborious guys on the market, man. Extra harmful than Chris Billam-Smith. If we would like to have the ability to compete at heavyweight – whether or not it’s bridgerweight or cruiserweight – we have now to be taking these guys out. That’s the reality. That’s the reality.
“If I wasn’t necessary I wouldn’t be right here. This wouldn’t be occurring. That’s the reality. I’m necessary – that’s why this struggle’s occurring.
“The coach [Billam-Smith works under Shane McGuigan] knew all of the weaknesses of [on the night Billam-Smith became champion, Lawrence] Okolie, and it was simply, good. He truly acquired the struggle – acquired him to defend it at his residence floor. It was arrange for him to win.”
Riakporhe additionally believes that he has improved since their first struggle, and that Billam-Smith has bodily declined.
“[In 2019 he was] excellent,” Riakporhe stated. “I feel he was higher. He was quick on his toes; he was energetic; he was a handful. I wouldn’t say he’s much less of a fighter, however I consider he’s deteriorated over time. Pure put on and tear, which occurs to us all.
“You’re going to see [my improvement] on Saturday. It’s extra psychological. It’s intangible. Extra psychological; non secular.
“He’s gonna want confidence, as a result of he’s getting in with a correct fighter. He’s gonna be like climbing Mount Everest.
“All of my pals can come out to assist me – my family and friends. Not all of them have been capable of flip as much as my fights, so it’s a particular second for me [to be fighting in south London].
“I’m a really bold particular person. I wish to go to the highest of this sport.”
