Riakporhe vs Welch Predictions: Son of ex-British champ to derail ‘Midnight Train’?

Former European cruiserweight champion Richard Riakporhe has his second heavyweight outing on Saturday, February 15, against Tommy Welch. The bout takes place on the undercard of Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn II at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The event will be broadcast exclusively live on DAZN pay-per-view. 

Read on for my Riakporhe vs Welch predictions.

Riakporhe vs Welch Odds

Riakporhe is the favourite for this one at 1/12. Welch has been telling everyone he is a "nobody". While that isn't true, his 7/1 price is reflective of lesser level of competition thus far. Welch is an unknown quality on this sort of stage. The draw is 25/1.

Riakporhe vs Welch Fight Preview 

‘The Midnight Train’ rolls into north London with a bit of momentum. Last time out, Riakporhe marked his debut at heavyweight by taking out Kevin Nicolas Espindola in four rounds. Not emphatic, perhaps, but the near-300lb Argentine is one of only two men to take Moses Itauma the distance.

Riakporhe made the move to the banner division after coming within a whisker of world honours at 200lbs. The Londoner lost a WBO title challenge to Chris Billam-Smith in June last year. The bout was a rematch from Riakporhe’s 2019 win over ‘CBS’. But what seemed like the culmination of an eight-year ring career for Riakporhe ended in disappointment at the hands of an old foe. 

So the cruiserweight made the move to heavyweight. Some have aced the jump. Oleksandr Usyk and Evander Holyfield are lofty examples, having both held the undisputed title in both divisions. David Haye was unified and lineal champ at cruiser before annexing the WBA heavyweight strap. It is an exclusive club of three, but that does not stop people trying.

Tomasz Adamek, Jean-Marc Mormeck, Marco Huck and James Toney all held cruiserweight world titles but failed in their attempts to win the heavyweight crown. It is another illustrious list and an example of how hard the jump is to make.  

There is heavyweight history in that ring on Saturday in the opposite corner. Tommy Welch’s father, Scott, boxed Henry Akinwande for the WBO heavyweight championship back in 1997. ‘The Brighton Rock’ beat Joe Bugner back in the day and held the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles.

The younger Welch will be looking to claim some history of his own at Spurs as he starts as the underdog against a fighter who has reached world level before. The early signs have been decent for Tommy. Sixteen wins have brought nine knockouts. But this is a Cinderella Man jump for a fighter who has never boxed higher than eight-round level.

The idea is to give Riakporhe an opponent who is game and who will come to win, but a foe who is unlikely to trouble him. Heavyweight marketability is built on knockouts and Riakporhe’s backers will be expecting him to deliver a finish on the night. Welch might have something to say about that. 

Riakporhe vs Welch Full Card

Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn

Adam Azim vs Kurt Scoby

Jack Catterall vs Ekow Essuman

Sam Gilley vs Ishmael Davis

Richard Riakporhe vs Tommy Welch

Mikie Tallon vs Fezan Shahid

Riakporhe vs Welch Prediction

Welch will come and have a go. Watch any of his bouts and you will see a boxer intent on making things happen. But his work can be sloppy and better men will find the chin he leaves exposed when he throws combinations.

Riakporhe is one of those better men. I make the former British cruiserweight champion too well-schooled for Welch. I think he will capitalise on the underdog’s mistakes and pick up a win inside the distance. Riakporhe by knockout in rounds 4-6 makes sense at 11/5.

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