Boxing
Richard Riakporhe on why he is like 'legend' Oleksandr Usyk
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Richard Riakporhe believes he is on the same level as Oleksandr Usyk, as he is also a “legend.”
Riakporhe fights on Saturday (live on Peacock in the US) against Chris Billiam-Smith, having beaten ‘The Gentleman’ back in 2019.
Billam-Smith is the WBO cruiserweight champion five years on, and Usyk - undisputed at heavyweight - has suggested he could now move back down after his rematch with Tyson Fury.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Riakporhe made it clear he was keen to make it happen.
"To be able to share a ring with such a legend like that, that's a special thing - something I can look back and tell my family and friends 'I shared a ring with this guy'," he said.
"I see myself as a legend as well, having to overcome all of the adversity to get to where I am now. It's like a legend vs a legend - that's beautiful."
He added: "He's not a big heavyweight, he doesn't have a lot of muscle. I've seen people like Roy Jones try to go up to heavyweight and come back down.
"But the way he bulked up and put so much muscle on, I think it became a bit dangerous because he's losing power and punch resistance too, that's why it's not really too good to move up and down the weights like that.
"But Usyk isn't a big heavyweight, so we'll see if he wants to do that. I think what they'll be telling him is to move down gradually - maybe bridgerweight then cruiserweight - but anything is possible when you put your mind to it and he has a great team to be able to guide him to do it professionally. I think it's definitely possible and I think it would be great - I would love to have that fight."
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