Richard Riakporhe Finishes Off Olanrewaju Durodola
Cruiserweight contender Richard Riakporhe (12-0, 8KO) and former title challenger Olanrewaju “God’s Power” Durodola (36-8, 33ko) will step in the ring to compete for the vacant WBC silver title.
Riakporhe has been on the fast track since entering the professional ranks in 2016. He has defeated other ranked fighters like Tommy McCarthy and Chris Billam-Smith. Facing Durodola is a signal that there is a plan to push towards a world championship.
The 31-year-old #10 (WBC) and #13 (WBO) British fighter will enjoy having the height, reach, and home crowd advantage.
Durodola has been around the block and at 41 years old, the window of opportunity is closing fast. Ranked #5 by the WBC, the Nigerian native has shared the ring some of the top names in the division. Guys like Dmitry Kudryashov, Maxim Vlasov, Michal Cieslak, Mairis Briedis, Thabiso Mchunu, and WBC champion Ilunga Junior Makabu.
Moreover, he has lost to all of them at some point. Coincidentally, he held the WBC silver title in 2015.
SHEER DOMINANCE
In a fight that was supposed to be the stiffest challenge of Riakporhe’s career it was anything but that.
Riakporhe’s showed from the opening round he’s well equipped to handle world level. He showcased a accurate jab that would often times be followed with a hard right hand. The power was immediately on display as his combination punching rocked and pushed back the former world title challenger multiple times in the opening stanza.
This trend would continue as Riakporhe would continue to walk down his older, timid adversary. He would finally close the show landing a left hook that dropped Durodola. The former world title contender got up but moments later but it was Riakporhe on attack again, throwing punches in bunches forcing the referee’s hand to jump in and halt the action.
After the fight, the unbeaten contender made it clear he envisions himself one day as a unified champion. WBO champion Lawrence Okolie’s name had been thrown out as a possible bout in the near future.
After his performance today it’s certainly not out of the question.
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By: Jerrell Fletcher
