TOTTENHAM Hotspur Stadium is set to host one of the biggest nights in British boxing on April 26, with a domestic clash between two fighters, sworn enemies from birth, in Chris Eubank Jr and Connor Benn. But hidden below it in the running order comes another domestic all-Britain clash between Cheavon Clarke and Viddal Riley at cruiserweight.
British Champion vs English Champion, Arsenal vs Tottenham, and Matchroom vs Boxxer, this fight has all the hallmarks of a serious fight of the night contender. It’s a bout that undoubtedly would headline any standard card on UK soil. The clash takes place for the British cruiserweight title that currently belongs to Clarke, the first title defence for the former Olympian.
Chev ‘C4’ Clarke comes into this fight off the back of his first loss in 11 pro outings, a split decision reverse to France’s Leonardo Mosquea in Monaco last year with the EBU title on the line. Despite this, C4 is an explosive cruiserweight on the domestic scene with a 70 per cent KO rate and an impressive knack for pouncing and sealing the deal when his opponent is hurt.
Turning pro in 2022, following the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the Jamaican-born fighter stopped seven of nine opponents en route to picking up the legendary Lonsdale belt in 2024. Despite a disappointing attempted step-up in Monte Carlo, there is no doubt that the Matchroom fighter will have more than a puncher’s chance in this one.
The man standing opposite him on Saturday is Tottenham’s own Viddal Riley, a strong amateur like Chev, who has made the unique journey to the English title via coaching YouTube boxer KSI, a Mayweather Promotions promotion deal, and a handful of frustrating fight pull-outs and injuries. Whilst at 27, the ‘Rilist’ still has plenty of time to kick on, it would be fair to suggest it has taken longer to get to this point than expected.
Unlike his opponent, Viddal is a more technically gifted boxer who holds respectable, if not explosive, power at cruiserweight. Riley also remains undefeated in 12 outings, with a unanimous decision victory against Mickael Lawal the pick of the performances.
On paper, the fight feels like a healthy combination of styles, where Viddal would be expected to pick up more rounds, fighting off both the front and back foot. Chev, meanwhile, will be looking to break down the English champion with his heavy hands and work rate. Calling this a classic puncher vs boxer would be a mislabelling, however, with both more than capable of mixing up styles and tactics depending on the opponent.
It is a rare sight for two fighters to lace up the gloves with the Lonsdale belt on the line, and a crowd leave the venue anything less than entertained. And this one, with all the energy and anticipation for the main event to follow, is unlikely to break that tradition.
Cheavon Clarke vs. Viddal Riley Fight Prediction
This is a very difficult fight to predict due to the similarities in ability and reputation between the two, with Chev having faced a higher level of opponent in his marginally shorter number of fights.
Despite this, I believe that Viddal Riley is the more likely of the two fighters to produce the sort of performance required to win this fight, as arguably the better boxer of the two (but not by much).
I predict a Riley comfortable, yet competitive, points decision win over the course of 12 gruelling rounds, adding a new piece of silverware to his collection. A rare situation for anyone related to Tottenham Hotspur to find themselves in.
Watch Eubank Jr vs Benn on Saturday 26th April live on DAZN, the global home of boxing with over 185+ fights per year.
