Elite British boxing talent descended on Camden Boxing Club in London today for a range of Open Workouts ahead of the upcoming BOXXER: Riakporhe vs Turchi event taking place at the OVO Arena Wembley on Saturday June 11, live on Sky Sports.
The assembled boxers – including world cruiserweight contender Richard Riakporhe and English Middleweight Champion Germaine Brown, who defends against Zak Chelli, worked out for the assembled media and gave their thoughts afterwards.
Richard Riakporhe
faces Fabio Turchi in IBF World Cruiserweight Championship Eliminator
“My camp to prepare for this fight has done me so much good. I think this is going to be the best performance of my career.”
“I’m going to win a contest of punching power, if that’s what it becomes.
“I just want to improve in every single way. At the gym we made a pact that we aim to improve every single performance, and we wanna give the fans what they want, they want to see a fight, they want to see knockdowns and knockouts. That’s what we train to do in the gym and that’s why people like to watch Richard Riakporhe.”
Viddal Riley:
Cruiserweight Prospect
“In the next 12 months I’d like to pick up a title. I don’t know which title yet.”
“Whenever I boxed in my last fight, I had the most success. Whenever I chased the knockout it got further away. So I’m just going to enjoy this fight, my first fight in London, my homecoming. And normally when I enjoy myself, a knockout follows.”
“The only pressure on me is the pressure I put on myself. I know my full potential, I didn’t show it in my last fight because of the two years I’d had out of the ring. But I’m back to it now, I’m ready.”
Zak Chelli
English Super-Middleweight Contender
“I’m a higher rank than him, I’ve fought better opponents than him, he’s fought nobody really.”
“I think I’ve got better power than him. People think I’m not a technical boxer, but the better the boxer the better I fight.”
“I don’t believe this goes 10 rounds. God willing I’ll knock him out.”
Germaine Brown
Defending English Super-Middleweight Champion
“It’s gonna come down to who wants it more. Me and the team have a game plan and we’re gonna stick to it. It might go the distance but he comes forward a lot, he might walk into something.”
Chris Kongo
faces Sebastian Formella in a Welterweight Contest
“I’m going to showcase everything I’ve been doing in the gym. All the drills I’ve been doing have been in my mind constantly. Watching videos of my opponent, watching videos of myself sparring. I make sure I watch it before I go to bed and when I wake up. When I’m at the gym I’m thinking about it constantly so I’m ready to perform now.”
“I believe I can stop anyone. If I put my mind to it, I believe I can get him out of there. The main thing I’m worried about is showcasing my skills. It’s not a big deal if I get the rounds in, that’ll be better for me.
“I’m just thinking about every single round what I’m going to do to him… I’m not thinking about anyone else other than Formella. That’s all I’ve been thinking about since the fight was announced.”
“I’m gonna make a big statement come June 11th. I speak it, I believe it, and I can’t wait to showcase it.”
Jeamie TKV:
Heavyweight
“I don’t feel pressure. Everyone has their own path, their own career. We’re all gonna get there at some point. We’re all gonna meet each other at some point. But I don’t feel any pressure, I feel like everyone has their own journey and this is my journey, how I wanna take it and how I wanna go is the way I’m gonna do it, so no pressure at all.”
“I’m just trying to entertain, I say it all the time. Not to say my last performance was a bad one but I just wanna put on an even better performance.”
Ebonie Jones:
Super-Bantamweight
“I don’t think the best of me has been seen at all yet. If I don’t perform well on June 11th then there’s nothing else I can do because I’ve trained so hard for this fight.”
“I want to show I can box. I’ve got a lot of skill and I don’t think that’s been shown completely yet”
“Obviously the aim is to get a world title, so I’ll fight whoever’s in the way for that”
Shannon Ryan:
Super-Flyweight
“Ever since I was five years old, I’ve known I was born to be on a stage and I believe I’m good enough to be here. I don’t have the boxing accolades or the amateur background but I’m someone showing you can do this no matter what background you’re from.
“I’m just so focused and dedicated to get myself to the top of my division. So the nerves are there, I can’t deny that, but this is what I love to do. I want to inspire younger people that no matter what you do, not just in sport but in life, if you put your focus to it and your mind to it you can achieve what you want.”
