Viddal Riley is the new British cruiserweight champion after impressively outboxing Cheavon Clarke at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Later this evening, the middleweight grudge match between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn will headline Ring Magazine’s first ever boxing card. The event is available on DAZN PPV.
Boxing at the home of his beloved Tottenham Hotspur, English champion, Riley, 13-0 (7 KOs), made a significant leap in levels look surprisingly easy as he comprehensively outscored a sluggish Clarke, 10-2 (7 KOs), over twelve rounds to earn a unanimous decision.
As the 27 year-old made his way back to his dressing room, he and his father and trainer, Derrick, paused to speak to Sky Sports.
Derrick revealed that by beating the more experienced Clarke, his son fulfilled a promise he made more than 20 years ago when they sat down and watched some classic British title fights together.
“We sat and watched Michael Gomez fight Alex Arthur and he said he was going to be British champion,” Derrick said.
“Ricky Hatton and Jon Thaxton. Jamie Moore and Matthew Macklin. He watched these fights and he said, ‘Dad, I'm going to be a British champion.’
“People laughed at us.They used to laugh at us, but look. He's in his home, he's a British champion and I'm proud of him.”
Watching those fights lit a fire in a young Riley and he went on to become a multi-time national champion as a junior and given the composed way in which he handled Clarke, there could be plenty more professional titles headed his way.
Riley's victory over Clarke may not have had the same level of drama or thrills and spills of the thrilling bouts that got him hooked on the sport but winning the famous Lonsdale belt is a proud moment for any British fighter. Riley seemed to acknowledge the gravity of his achievement and wanted to share the moment.
“You’ve always wanted this belt?” he said as he, he draped the beautiful belt over his father’s shoulder. “Even more than a world title sometimes, my dad bigged up the British title so you carry that belt.”