Tommy Welch means business ahead of his showdown with Richard Riakpohreplaceholder image
Tommy Welch means business ahead of his showdown with Richard Riakpohre | Getty Images
Ian Hart looks ahead to an explosive night of boxing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Unbeaten Shoreham heavyweight Tommy Welch has promised to end the career of his top-rated opponent, Croydon’s Richard Riakpohre.
The duo will face off in their highly anticipated Eubank/Benn undercard contest at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tomorrow night.
In a fight that has the added spice in that Riakpohre follows Crystal Palace, whilst Welch is an Amex season ticket holder.
Speaking at the final press conference, both fighters engaged in some verbal sparring, with most observers giving Welch a ‘points win’ in the vocal spat.
Looking over at his opponent, Welch, told the massed ranks of the nations boxing press, “On Saturday night, the midnight train (one of Riakpohre’s nicknames) is going to turn into the last bus home!”
Riakpohre countered when questioned how long he thought the fight was going to last?
“Not very long, I will knock him out in 5.”
Welch retorted “You’re right, it won’t be very long, but it will be me finishing you.
“They call you ‘The Sniper’, “You haven’t snipered anybody, you failed at Cruiserweight, and I’m going to end you Saturday.”
It all points to a fascinating contest, Riakpohre has fought at World level, losing to Chris Billham Smith in a Cruiserweight World Title Fight at Selhurst Park, but his questioning about Welch’s level of opponents are disingenuous.
The likeable Shoreham Beach resident’s career has arguably stalled to a degree because of a couple of serious injuries.
Tommy Welch and Chris Eubank Jr to triumph
This is the fight in front of an almost sold-out Spurs and with millions more watching at home and around the globe, is where Welch can put himself among British Heavyweight Boxing’s major players.
Prediction wise, I’m going for a Sussex double. In the main event I think Eubank Jnr will be too big and strong for the smaller Benn, whose corner will pull him out around Rounds 7 or 8.
As for Welch, I think we finally, after more false starts than Linford Christie, get to see the real “Tommy”, and he wins on either KO or stoppage, around the middle part of the fight.
Continue Reading