Richard Riakporhe Runs Over Fabio Turchi In Route To A Possible Title Shot
On June 11, ranked cruiserweights “The Midnight Train” Richard Riakporhe (14-0, 10KO) and Fabio “Stone Crusher” Turchi (20-1, 14KO) did battle in an IBF title eliminator at Wembley Stadium.
Turchi honed his skills after a decent run in the amateurs by participating in the World Series of Boxing tournament in 2015. The 28-year-old Italian turned professional shortly after the WSB tournament and enjoyed a good run winning both the WBC and IBF International titles. His sole defeat came at the hands of Tommy McCarthy back in 2019. Stone Crusher is riding the wave of a three-fight win streak.
Riakporhe’s story about the sport of boxing is an interesting one. After surviving a fatal stabbing at the age of 15, he turned his life around and picked up the sport of boxing as a late bloomer at 18. With only seventeen amateur fights, the hard-punching Brit turned professional in 2016 and has done extremely well while learning on the job. He holds victories over contenders Chris Billiam-Smith and the previously mentioned Tommy McCarthy. His accomplishments so far consists of winning the BBBofC British and WBA Inter-Continental titles.
THE BODY SHOT ENDED THE FIGHT EARLY
Riakporhe entered the ring all business with a training team that consisted of Angel Fernandez, who learned under famed trainer Ismael Salas, and world-renown Robert Garcia. The crowd was on pins and needles as they believed an explosion was moments away. Turchi was not rattled at all, coming forward, slipping under the jab, and landed a good hard right hook.
In the second round, The Midnight Train picked up the pace pumping the jab and landed a perfect left hook to the liver that brought the crowd to their feet. Turchi’s delayed reaction was felt throughout the arena. Despite getting back up from the canvas, his corner immediately jumped in the ring to stop the fight while he slumped back against the ropes.
One-step closer to a world title fight, Riakporhe expressed that he wants all the smoke with all the champions of the division in the post-fight interview.
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By: Garrisson Bland
