Lawrence Okolie Continues on the Heavyweight Path Against Richard Riakporhe

London, UK - Former cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie looks to build on his dominant heavyweight debut as he prepares to take on fellow Brit Richard Riakporhe on April 5 at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, United Kingdom. The highly anticipated clash features on a stacked card that also includes David Adeleye vs. Jeamie Tshikeva and Filip Hrgovic vs. Joe Joyce.

While Okolie and Riakporhe both boast power and size, some fans worry the fight could be hindered by Okolie’s tendency to clinch—a style that has drawn criticism in previous bouts.

Okolie enters the fight, streamed live on DAZN, with a 22-1 record, including 16 knockouts. His only career loss came in May 2023, a majority decision defeat to Chris Billam-Smith. Coincidentally, Billam-Smith is also the lone fighter to have beaten Riakporhe, winning their rematch via unanimous decision.

The bookmakers at Online Sports Betting heavily favor Okolie, with odds suggesting he wins this fight 76% of the time. Despite both fighters standing 6'5", Okolie holds a significant 5.5-inch reach advantage and has already proven he can carry his power up to the heavyweight division. In December 2024, he secured the WBC Silver Heavyweight title with a devastating first-round knockout of Hussein Muhamed. For Riakporhe, who has yet to compete at heavyweight, this fight will serve as a major test of his ability to handle the division’s bigger, stronger opposition.

Okolie’s Rise to the Heavyweight Division

Okolie was a latecomer to boxing, only taking the sport seriously in 2012 after watching Anthony Joshua compete in the London Olympics. Determined to follow in his idol’s footsteps, he reached the 2016 Rio Olympics, representing Team GB, before losing in the Round of 16 to eventual bronze medalist Erislandy Savón.

His professional career began in 2017 when Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Sport signed him. A first-round knockout victory in his debut set the tone for an impressive run at cruiserweight. Over the next few years, he claimed multiple titles, including the WBA Continental, Commonwealth, British, and European cruiserweight belts.

Okolie reached the pinnacle of the division by capturing the WBO cruiserweight title and successfully defending it four times before his 2023 loss to Billam-Smith. Rather than staying at cruiserweight for another run, Okolie opted to move up to heavyweight, where he made an immediate impact with his knockout victory over Lukasz Rozanski for the WBC Bridgerweight title.

Stepping up further, Okolie made his heavyweight debut in December 2024, weighing in at over 260 pounds and dismantling Hussein Muhamed in the first round to claim the WBC Silver Heavyweight title.

‍Riakporhe Faces His Toughest Challenge Yet

Riakporhe, with a record of 17-1 (13 KOs), has enjoyed a solid professional career, but he now faces the most difficult challenge of his journey. His only career loss came in June 2024 against Chris Billam-Smith, a fighter he had previously beaten five years earlier when both were rising prospects.

In their rematch, Billam-Smith outclassed Riakporhe, applying relentless pressure and controlling the fight. Judges scored it 116-111, 115-112, and 115-112, making it clear that Riakporhe struggled to adapt. His game plan, centered around raw power, was ineffective against an opponent who moved well and dictated the pace.

Against Okolie, Riakporhe will not only need to improve technically but also prove he can handle the additional weight and power of the heavyweight division. The extra mass could sap his endurance—an issue that already troubled him at cruiserweight.

Chris Billam-Smith Predicts an Okolie Victory

Having defeated both men, Chris Billam-Smith offered his prediction for the fight during an interview with talkSPORT’s Boxing Show alongside Simon Jordan and Spencer Oliver.

“Lawrence is very energetic in the way he boxes. If he doesn’t get the early knockout, fights can get messy and tiring for both guys. But if Richard stays calm and carries his power late in the fight when Lawrence starts to tire, he might be able to find the shot. They both hit hard, but I think Lawrence will land a lot more. He’s tough to hit cleanly, so I’d pick Lawrence.”

Tension Between the Fighters

There is no love lost between Okolie and Riakporhe. Their bad blood dates back to 2023, when they nearly came to blows at the Creed III movie premiere.

At a recent press conference, Riakporhe revisited the incident, claiming Okolie had disrespected him on the red carpet. Okolie, however, had a different version of events:

"I didn't actually disrespect him. I went over to him and said, 'Madonna’s old now,' and that set it off. That was all. The rest was on camera."

The "Madonna" reference stems from a viral 2024 photo of Riakporhe kissing the Queen of Pop, which he had posted before his fight against Billam-Smith.

Okolie took the opportunity to taunt Riakporhe further:

"I’m gonna deal with you and deal with you in good fashion. Then you can go back to kissing Madonna and your modeling career. We’ll leave it at that."

Riakporhe, unfazed, responded calmly:

"I am not here to play around. There’s a big opportunity to change my life. I’m not nervous around him—the only thing that worries me is one of his big hugs might suffocate me. That’s all that scares me."

His remark poked fun at Okolie’s reputation for excessive clinching and grappling, a frequent criticism from fans and analysts alike.

Final Thoughts

With Okolie already proving his heavyweight credentials and Riakporhe stepping into uncharted territory, this fight could be a defining moment for both men. Will Okolie’s experience and reach prove too much, or will Riakporhe rise to the challenge and pull off the upset?

One thing is certain—on April 5, these two giants will settle their differences in the ring. Boxing fans worldwide can catch all the action live on DAZN.