- Jeamie Tshikeva (9-2, 5 KOs) defends his British heavyweight title for the first time against Richard Riakporhe on the Fury-Makhmudov undercard at Tottenham, April 11 on Netflix
- Riakporhe is a former WBO cruiserweight title challenger who has moved up to heavyweight and beaten Kevin Espindola and Tommy Welch in 2025-26
- Tshikeva won the British title by split decision over Frazer Clarke in November — this is his chance to prove it was no fluke on the biggest stage
TKV's First Defence on the Biggest Stage
Right then, this is where it gets interesting. Jeamie Tshikeva picked up the British heavyweight title back in November with a split decision victory over Frazer Clarke, and there's been chatter ever since about whether he truly deserved it. That's the nature of split decisions at title level—someone's going to question the judges' scorecards. Well, April 11 at Tottenham on the Fury-Makhmudov undercard gives TKV the perfect opportunity to silence those doubters once and for all.
He's 9-2 with 5 KOs, and he's not a huge puncher, but he's durable and he understands the distance. Against Richard Riakporhe, that technical foundation is going to matter. Netflix are broadcasting this thing live from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium—there's nowhere to hide when you're on that platform, on that stage, with that kind of exposure.
Riakporhe Brings Pedigree and Questions
Riakporhe's record is interesting. The man's been at world level before—he challenged for the WBO cruiserweight title, which tells you he's fought proper opposition and knows what it takes to operate at that altitude. He's 30-3 at cruiserweight, but he's moved up to heavyweight now, and he's won his last two fights against Kevin Espindola and Tommy Welch in 2025-26. That's not the worst run of form, but it's not exactly name-heavy either.
The question is: how will he adjust to heavyweight? That's a proper step up in size and power. Yes, he's a skilled fighter and he's got experience, but moving up divisions is never simple. TKV has the home advantage, he's got the Lonsdale belt, and he's fighting on the biggest undercard of the year. Those are significant factors.
A Genuine 50-50 Fight
Make no mistake, this is a proper 50-50 affair. Riakporhe's pedigree at cruiserweight can't be ignored, and technical skill translates regardless of weight class. But TKV's got the momentum of a recent title win, the home support at Tottenham, and he'll be the more comfortable heavyweight at this stage of his development.
I see TKV edging this one by decision. It won't be pretty, it'll probably be close, but his comfort at heavyweight and the platform he's on will push him over the line. Riakporhe will make it competitive—he always does—but TKV takes it 116-112 or thereabouts.
What This Win Really Means
A victory here changes everything for Tshikeva. Suddenly the Clarke win becomes legitimate. He moves to 10-2 with a British title defence under his belt on Netflix, in front of the whole world. That positions him for bigger things in the heavyweight division—maybe a shot at a Commonwealth title, or a European dance, or even a world title eliminator down the line.
For Riakporhe, a loss doesn't end the story—he's fought at world level before and he's experienced—but it does set back his heavyweight journey. A win, though, and he's suddenly in the conversation for title shots himself. That's what makes Tottenham on April 11 so important for both men. This is the heavyweight undercard of the year, and these two are going to leave everything out there.