CRAIG RICHARDS is laying out his plans for what he wants next. The Crystal Palace light-heavyweight has already won the British title in style and acquitted himself well against Dmitry Bivol, the holder of the WBA belt. โSpiderโ is currently in negotiations to set his next fight but wants it to advance his career. If it canโt be one of the belt-holders, Richards is looking for an eliminator or a fight that will propel him back to world level.
Heโll be out in late April or early May. Germanyโs Dominic Boesel and south London rival Joshua Buatsi are possible opponents for this next fight. โIโve just got to see which ever of the highest level opposition I can face is available. Because I just want big fights. The options there are good, theyโre all big fights, whether itโs Dominic Boesel, the European [title]. Thereโs talk of a domestic clash with Josh. Thereโs a few good options at the moment,โ Richards told Boxing News. โWith Josh himself, thereโs a lot of respect there, Iโve known Josh for a whileโฆ I donโt hate him and doesnโt hate me, or I donโt think he hates me! I donโt think itโs a situation like that. Weโre both at that point where weโre both knocking on the door for a world title, we know the world titles are tied up. Weโve got to look at our options.
โMaybe itโll get sorted but thatโs the sort of thing youโre looking at at this stage of your career, either big money or a reward at the end.โ
Richards has shown a willingness to box anybody, even at short notice. When Callum Johnson was ruled out of his bout with WBO belt-holder Joe Smith, Richards publicly declared his willingness to fly over and fight the American with a few days to go.
โYou saw I put the Tweets out, I told my manager to reach out to them and we werenโt really getting anything back,โ Craig said. โThat was a bit disappointing. But thatโs what I mean, wherever the opportunity makes sense Iโm always willing to get in there and get stuck in.โ
He didnโt think much of Smithโs choice for a replacement, Steve Geffrard. โNo one knew who he was. Heโs never boxed at the level, heโs never boxed past eight rounds, so whatโs the point. Iโm a seasoned professional, Iโve been at that level,โ Richards said. โ[Against Bivol] there was no part of the fight where I thought letโs just push through this, this is getting tough. I was able to think with a clear head constantly and try to set traps for him and box and control what heโs doing. Thatโs why he did say at the end Iโve got a very good IQ, it was like I knew what he was going to do before he did it.
โI come up one round short. I could have pressed on it a bit more and I believe I could have delivered the win. I was scoring the rounds a little bit wrong and I got it slightly off but I had loads left in the tank.โ
Richards points out that his bout with Bivol was closer on the scorecards than Joe Smithโs. โI put in a better performance than he did,โ Craig said. โIt shows that I belong at that level.โ
Heโs adamant there is more to come from him. Thatโs the appeal of fighting Boesel โ the German is ranked number one with the WBA and beating him could lead Richards back to Bivol. โSo fights like that make sense because youโre moving forward in your career,โ he said. โIโve got no problem fighting anyone. Itโs just got to make a little bit of sense.โ
โI wouldnโt move forward from the British [title] to go back to the British,โ he added. โThese are the sort of names that are classed as world ranked, world level fighters.โ
Richards notes that he has had his share of domestic clashes, hammering Jake Ball and then Shakan Pitters, winning the British title against the latter. โI was the challenger in [Pittersโ] hometown on his channel and got the knockout, took the belt and ran off! Nothing was in my favour at all. Iโve been up against it multiple times and Iโve showed people Iโm not scared of fighting anyone. Iโll fight everyone and when my backโs up against the wall I will perform,โ Craig said. โWhen I boxed Jake, I think he was top five in Britain at the time, when I boxed Shakan he was top five in Britain at the time.
โI showed my adaptability, Iโve been in them tough fights and got the job done.โ
โGood knockouts and it still didnโt really put me on the map,โ he added. โI never had all the accolades and the big promotion coming through but Iโve just literally been showing it through my talent.โ