Can Riakporhe turn Lonsdale Belt double-bubble into world title shot?

'The Midnight Train' arrived in north London bidding to add another Lonsdale Belt to the one he earned at cruiserweight.

A gripping fifth-round TKO triumph ensured that he left Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with his prize and his reputation enhanced.

Now, though, Riakporhe wants more, with his latest taste of silverware whetting the appetite for a world title bid down the line.

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In a sense, it marks unfinished business for a man who came up short in his attempt to reach the summit one division below.

But as he begins to build again, DAZN News considers the question - can Riakporhe leave a lasting mark at heavyweight too?

Has Riakporhe fought for a world title before?

To understand quite where Riakporhe feels he has a point to prove, you only need to look back to Selhurst Park in June 2024.

Six-foot-five, with a hammer of a hook, 'The Midnight Train' had bulldozed towards Crystal Palace after five straight knockouts.

In his path was WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith, a man Riakporhe had already conquered five years prior.

Pre-bout expectations were that the latter would rip the crown away - but instead, on his biggest stage yet, he brutally choked.

Billam-Smith offered the smarter work, breaking his opponent's holds, and standing strong even when his opponent rallied late.

At the home of his favoured football club, it marked the first - and to date, only - professional loss for Riakporhe inside the ring.

How has Riakporhe fared at heavyweight?

That bitter blow proved the catalyst for Riakporhe to throw off his 200-pound shackles and make the glamour division switch.

Neither of his first two foes gave him any serious truck, with speedy wins over both Kevin Nicolas Espindola and Tommy Welch.

TKV was expected to offer a sterner test, but with his rangier frame and build, Riakporhe still entered their bout as the favourite.

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As the only fighter to score a stoppage on the Tyson Fury-Arslanbek Makhmudov undercard, success underlined his power too.

Lower-place rankings with both the IBF and WBO have subsequently followed, establishing him among a crowded field of faces.

Now, the questions turn as to whether Riakporhe can embark on a remarkable run through the division - and how he may fare.

Is a heavyweight title bid realistic?

There's both a case for and against Riakporhe's progression through the heavyweight decision - but in a nutshell, maybe so.

While Oleksandr Usyk and Fabio Wardley currently hold all four major belts between them, a schism could well be brewing.

The former hopes for another undisputed shot against the winner of the latter's bout with Daniel Dubois, but will he get it?

With a queue of leading contenders speared by Agit Kabayel and Moses Itauma, he may yet be forced to vacate a strap.

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If it happens to be the IBF belt, then Riakporhe could position himself into prime position by taking out a top-ranked rival.

Frank Sanchez and Richard Torrez Jr. are due to meet beneath Usyk when he defends his WBC strap against Rico Verhoeven.

If forced to wait, might Riakporhe be able to launch a bid at the winner and install himself as a contender? It wouldn't be a shock.

For now, the star will need to bide his time. But if he can continue his form throughout 2026, 'The Midnight Train' may take some stopping.

Watch Wardley vs. Dubois only on DAZN

The WBO world heavyweight title is on the line for Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois on May 9, only on DAZN PPV. Buy as a one-off PPV or included, along with Usyk vs Verhoeven (May 23), with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription.

For more information, pricing and to buy, click here.