Jeamie TKV questions if Richard Riakphore is ready for British heavyweight title shot

British heavyweight titleholder Jeamie “TKV” Tshikeva has questioned whether Richard Riakphore has fully adapted to his new weight.

If you were to see the 6ft 5ins Riakphore in person, you would struggle to believe it possible for a man of his size to make the 200lb cruiserweight limit. Riakphore, a former British titleholder and world title challenger at cruiserweight, is as wide as he is tall, and weighed in for his previous heavyweight dustup at 236lbs.

“Honestly, it feels like a cheat code being up at heavyweight,” said the 36-year-old Riakphore. “The things I used to go through on fight week as a cruiserweight just wishing that the weigh-in would come closer. Now, this is different. Heavyweights will never understand what it’s like to make weight. It’s torture. I feel much happier now.

“We’ve got some legends over there – Lennox Lewis and David Haye – they both won this [British] title. Now I think about legacy. Obviously the money is great, but legacy is important – when people talk about you in a good way when you’re not in the room.”

After two contests in his new weight class, Riakphore, in his biggest test as a heavyweight, will take on Tshikeva on Saturday at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The 32-year-old Tshikeva grew up just a 10-minute walk from where the pair will do battle, and he is riding high from defeating Olympic bronze medalist Frazer Clarke in November.

“I always knew my level. Beating Clarke was more of a ‘I told you so’ because I knew I could beat Clarke,” Tshikeva said. “It wasn’t a surprise to me. I know where I can go is bigger than this. It’s not going to be the easiest night for Richard, just because I know how I’ve prepared.”

Tshikeva, a career heavyweight, questioned whether Riakphore has fully adjusted to carrying the extra muscle that fighting in the blue-ribbon division requires.

“Yes, he’s fighting for the British heavyweight title, so I guess it is his first real heavyweight fight,” Tshikeva said. “In a way, Richard’s got to get used to being a heavyweight. It’s only been about a year he’s been getting used to sitting at that weight. We’re going to do 12 rounds and we’re going to have to see how it goes.”

Tom Ivers is a lifelong fight fan and former amateur boxer who has a master’s degree in sports journalism. Tom joined BoxingScene in 2024 and is now a key part of the UK and social media teams.