Richard Riakporhe is aiming to become world cruiserweight champion next year and believes his game is developing under trainer Angel Fernandez.
Riakporhe (12-0, 8 KOs) faces former world title challenger, Olanrewaju Durodola for the vacant WBC Silver title at the SSE Arena on Saturday, live on Sky Sports.
The former British champion, who is ranked within the top 15 of two governing bodies, ended a 22-month lay-off last month with a points victory over Krzysztof Twardowski and insists he has improved during the time he has had away from the ring.
“I really believe that I’m a level above all of these other guys,” Riakporhe told proboxing-fans.com at Thursday’s press conference.
“And Durodola’s going to see that I’m on it.
“I just know I’m better. I’ve got the power, but also the boxing skill to go with that.
“Obviously I’ve been developing that in the gym with Angel Fernandez and we’re just ready to show the world what we can do and what we’re capable of.
“So, major opportunity for me. I’ve done my part we just need him to give us the opportunity of defeating him.”
Asked where he wants to be by the end of 2022, the Londoner added: “World champ.”
The 31-year-old has beaten four domestic rivals including now-British, Commonwealth and European champion, Chris Billam-Smith, who he edged by split decision in 2019.
Riakporhe has long-been linked with a showdown against London rival and WBO world champion, Lawrence Okolie although a fight seems more difficult to make now with both men with different promotional teams and campaigning on separate networks.
However, he remains confident that a clash can still be made in the future.
“That fight is going to always be there.
“But, the coolest thing about the cruiserweight division is there’s fights everywhere.
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“There’s so many domestic fights I can go back and ignite, I can ignite that type of fire again.
“I’m ready to fight every single one of them, if it makes sense businesswise.”
Durodola (36-8, 33 KOs) looks to become a two-time WBC Silver cruiserweight champion and has won two on the bounce since defeat to WBC cruiserweight world champion, Ilunga Makabu who is set to face four-weight world champion, Canelo Alvarez next year.
Watch the full interview with Richard Riakporhe below:
