Home Columns Richard Riakporhe vs Olanrewaju Durodola – Results & Post-Fight Report

Richard Riakporhe vs Olanrewaju Durodola – Results & Post-Fight Report

Riakporhe halts Durodola to edge closer to world title shot

By
Paul Mason
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Richard Riakporhe stopped Olanrewaju Durodola in five rounds on Saturday night Photo Credit: Lawrence Lustig/BOXXER
Richard Riakporhe stopped Olanrewaju Durodola in five rounds on Saturday night Photo Credit: Lawrence Lustig/BOXXER

At the top of the latest BOXXER bill at SSE Arena, Wembley, Richard Riakporhe won a WBC cruiserweight title eliminator, and the vacant WBC Silver title, with a routine fifth round stoppage of former world title challenger Olanrewaju Durodola.

Riakporhe moved to 13-0 (9 KOs) with his latest victory, against Durodola, 41, that had been in with some of the leading lights in the division previously.

The Londoner started with authority, and wobbled the visitor at the end of the first round, landing right on the bell.

Durodola (36-9, 33 KOs) was limited and far from ambitious, and, after another dominant round in the second, Riakporhe cranked up the pressure in the third, stunning his opponent with a big right hand.

The distress signals were evident from the Nigerian, and the fourth saw more heavy, accurate punching from the home favourite, with his foe on unsteady legs.

Round five saw the breakthrough, as a left hand felled Durodola, who looked exhausted.

He beat the count, but a sustained attack on the resumption forced referee Victor Laughlin’s intervention.

Marku overcomes Luisetto

Backed by a massive following, ‘Albanian King’ Florian Marku took victory in his welterweight encounter with Jorick Luisetto (11-3, 3 KOs), which took place after Riakporhe’s victory.

Marku (10-0-1, 6 KOs) took a 78-75 win on the referee’s scorecard.

Azeez crowned British champion

The vacant British light heavyweight title was claimed by Dan Azeez, and in some style, as he completely dominated Hosea Burton, eventually scoring a scintillating seventh round stoppage win.

Azeez (15-0, 10 KOs) made a swift start, with hard shots to head and body, and caught former champion, Burton by surprise early on.

Burton (26-3, 12 KOs) was hurt by a right hand in the third, and was being bullied around the ring by the 32-year-old, who was in complete control, and by the seventh, Burton was already needing knockdowns.

The 33-year-old went for broke, and it proved his downfall, as a left hand had ’The Hammer’ reeling, and a follow up assault forced the referee to intervene.

Lawal scores huge knockout

Mikael Lawal suffered disappointment, as Steven Ward, pulled out of their scheduled meeting through injury.

Lawal (15-0, 9 KOs) had to make do with a replacement in the form of Leonardo Damian Bruzzese (20-7, 7 KOs), and he was giving a decent argument before uncorking a massive right hand over the top at the end of the fifth that wiped the Italian out.

Campbell claims fourth win

Heavyweight prospect Nick Campbell moved to 4-0 (4 KOs), as he recorded a third round stoppage win against Phil Williams.

Heavyweight Nick Campbell (L) stopped Phil Williams (R) to claim his fourth professional win Photo Credit: Lawrence Lustig/BOXXER
Heavyweight Nick Campbell (L) stopped Phil Williams (R) to claim his fourth professional win Photo Credit: Lawrence Lustig/BOXXER

Williams (3-34-1, 1 KO) was down in the opener from some clubbing right hands, and two rounds later a swift combination put the Swindon native on the floor again, and the fight was waved off.

Azim brothers score stoppages

Adam Azim (2-0, 1 KO) impressed, as he scored a second round win over Stu Greener.

Greener (3-8, 1 KO) was down from a chopping right at the end of the opener, and a couple of cuffing right hands at the start of the second had him on the floor once more, and his corner threw the towel in.

Adam’s brother Hassan Azim (1-0, 1 KO) took less than a minute on his professional debut to see off Ivan Njegac (12-22, 4 KOs).

A flurry of shots to both head and body had the Croatian on the canvas, and he stayed there, failing to beat the count.

Jonas back to winning ways

Natasha Jonas (10-2-1, 7 KOs) made a welcome return to action following her world title defeat to Katie Taylor, and took a 59-55 win in her lightweight contest with Vaida Masiokaite (2-12-4, 1 KO).

Brown extends undefeated streak

Super middleweight Germaine Brown remained unbeaten, taking a six round points win against Ondrej Budera (15-24-1, 8 KOs).

Brown (11-0, 3 KOs) took a 60-54 win for the referee.

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