Since moving up to heavyweight, Richard Riakporhe has become acutely aware of the pronounced power he now possesses in each fist.
He was, of course, a destructive puncher at cruiserweight, only now there is an extra 30-odd pounds that can be utilised to generate the force required for a dramatic finish.
Combining that with his natural speed, too, Riakporhe has become almost fearful of the devastating effects his punches might have on future opponents.
In fact, before steamrolling Tommy Welch in his last outing, ‘The Midnight Train’ had envisioned the outcome being far worse than just a second-round stoppage.
Speaking with Boxing News, he reflected on his emphatic performance last November while, at the same time, expressing concern for his opponents’ safety.
“I’m definitely feeling way more powerful. When you have more weight on you, and you’re turning into the shots, it’s going to be way more impactful.
“That’s why, when I’m preparing for a fight, I always pray for my opponents. I don’t want to get myself in a situation where serious damage is done.
“Before my last fight, I had a dream that I did some serious damage to my opponent, so I was happy that he left the ring in one piece.
“I know what I do in the gym; I know what I’m capable of. That’s why you see me calm and collected throughout these processes.”
Sticking with this routine, the next person for whom Riakporhe must say a prayer is Jeamie TKV, who he will face on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov on April 11.
But while acknowledging his concussive knockout power, the Londoner ultimately believes his speed represents a key advantage over heavyweights such as TKV.
“[Speed is] all I really focus on. The other day I was sparring Pat Brown, who’s a super-fast cruiserweight, so to be able to mix it with him gives me more and more confidence.
“I always tell people that it’s good to have power, but power is overrated. Speed and timing is everything.
“When you’re fighting someone with speed, and you can’t do anything to counter them or respond, it almost feels like you’re disabled; it’s like you’re handicapped.”
Since moving up to Scotland, where he trains with head coach Billy Nelson, Riakporhe has noticed several differences to his previous set-up in Loughborough.
More specifically, there is less of an emphasis on video analysis and more of an old-school feel to his camps, encouraging him to make adjustments on the fly.
“Once you understand how to adjust, you can deal with most things. For me, it’s not complicated.
“In this day and age, a lot of people are using video analysts and are waiting [for their opponent to throw] one type of shot, so they can react and respond to it.
“But what if they’re waiting for the shot and the shot never comes? That’s why I like the old-school kind of vibe: just going in there and dealing with what’s in front of you.”
Standing in front of Riakporhe at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will be TKV, who claimed his British title with a split decision victory over Frazer Clarke in November.
Having previously held the Lonsdale Belt at 200lbs, Riakporhe looks forward to replicating his success in the land of the giants.
“I can add something else to my legacy: becoming a two-weight British champion. That’s something to rant and rave about, for sure.”
While TKV represents a strong opponent, Riakporhe equally believes that Clarke, his former stablemate, would have defeated the 32-year-old if not for his apparent lack of top-tier preparation.
“I feel like Frazer would have done much better if he didn’t have certain issues in camp, but even though he fought a completely different gameplan [to what he should have], it was still such a close decision.
“So I see [TKV] as another opponent in the Riakporhe story. He’s a durable opponent – someone who shouldn’t be taken lightly – but it’s about how Riakporhe deals with him.”
At heavyweight, Riakporhe is just one win away from landing a major opportunity, but must first become a two-weight British champion against TKV this Saturday.
