Richard Riakporhe has given fans an insight into his scuffle with fellow British cruiserweight, Lawrence Okolie, and what sparked it.
The pair were caught on camera at the European premiere for Hollywood flick, Creed 3, in an altercation that involved pushing and shoving but no punches thrown. It was quickly split up.
Riakporhe told TalkSPORT that, whilst he can’t remember the exact details, he ‘saw red’ when Okolie approached him.
“I was just catching up with a few friends of mine – Craig Richards one of them – and Lawrence just come out of nowhere and started talking to me. I felt disrespected, he came into my space, and then I just saw red.
I don’t know what happened after that. Everybody was just getting separated and I just went my way. I saw Spencer Fearon and he was trying to calm it down. I thought ‘I think it’s the best time for us to leave.'”
The undefeated fighter known as ‘The Midnight Train’ went into more detail, admitting that it wasn’t a ‘great look’ but that restraint was shown.
“I don’t know what [he said] – I need to watch the video again. Sometimes in the heat of the moment you don’t really recall everything that was said … It is what it is. The great thing is that nobody threw hands.
We’re professional boxers we’re supposed to conduct ourselves properly, and it’s not really a great look. I can do better. I’m a human being. Same goes for Okolie.
“I feel like I still controlled myself. I was an inch to throwing. An inch away. I said to myself ‘don’t do that, just remember where you came from Richard.'”
He joked that Okolie was maybe ‘working the stands and ran out of sauce’ – a nod to the champion’s ring moniker and first job. Finally, on the subject of a real fight, Riakporhe welcomed it.
“I feel like that’s my destiny. I think until I fight him, I wouldn’t have accomplished my goals in the game of boxing. I’ve always believed that I’m number one, and I’m willing to prove it.”
“When we get in the ring, it’s gonna be over 18’s. It’s not gonna PG, I tell you.”
He ended the conversation by rating Okolie one of the best cruiserweights in the world, but believes a fight ends with him getting the stoppage within six rounds.
‘The Sauce’ is set to defend his WBO title against undefeated David Light on March 25 in Manchester. With a victory there, promoter Ben Shalom is sure to try and match him up with Riakporhe.