Fighting Joshua Buatsi next is an option for Craig Richards

Craig Richards

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. โ€œSpiderโ€ is currently in negotiations to set his next fight but wants it to advance his career. If it canโ€™t be one of the belt-holders, Richards is looking for an eliminator or a fight that will propel him back to world level.

Heโ€™ll be out in late April or early May. Germanyโ€™s Dominic Boesel and south London rival Joshua Buatsi are possible opponents for this next fight. โ€œIโ€™ve 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, theyโ€™re all big fights, whether itโ€™s Dominic Boesel, the European [title]. Thereโ€™s talk of a domestic clash with Josh. Thereโ€™s a few good options at the moment,โ€ Richards told Boxing News. โ€œWith Josh himself, thereโ€™s a lot of respect there, Iโ€™ve known Josh for a whileโ€ฆ I donโ€™t hate him and doesnโ€™t hate me, or I donโ€™t think he hates me! I donโ€™t think itโ€™s a situation like that. Weโ€™re both at that point where weโ€™re both knocking on the door for a world title, we know the world titles are tied up. Weโ€™ve got to look at our options.

โ€œMaybe itโ€™ll get sorted but thatโ€™s the sort of thing youโ€™re 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.

โ€œYou saw I put the Tweets out, I told my manager to reach out to them and we werenโ€™t really getting anything back,โ€ Craig said. โ€œThat was a bit disappointing. But thatโ€™s what I mean, wherever the opportunity makes sense Iโ€™m always willing to get in there and get stuck in.โ€

He didnโ€™t think much of Smithโ€™s choice for a replacement, Steve Geffrard. โ€œNo one knew who he was. Heโ€™s never boxed at the level, heโ€™s never boxed past eight rounds, so whatโ€™s the point. Iโ€™m a seasoned professional, Iโ€™ve been at that level,โ€ Richards said. โ€œ[Against Bivol] there was no part of the fight where I thought letโ€™s 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 heโ€™s doing. Thatโ€™s why he did say at the end Iโ€™ve got a very good IQ, it was like I knew what he was going to do before he did it.

โ€œI 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 Smithโ€™s. โ€œI put in a better performance than he did,โ€ Craig said. โ€œIt shows that I belong at that level.โ€

Heโ€™s adamant there is more to come from him. Thatโ€™s the appeal of fighting Boesel โ€“ the German is ranked number one with the WBA and beating him could lead Richards back to Bivol. โ€œSo fights like that make sense because youโ€™re moving forward in your career,โ€ he said. โ€œIโ€™ve got no problem fighting anyone. Itโ€™s just got to make a little bit of sense.โ€

craig richards
Richards scored a spectacular knockout against Pitters. Photo: Hennessy Sports

โ€œI wouldnโ€™t move forward from the British [title] to go back to the British,โ€ he added. โ€œThese 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. โ€œI 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. Iโ€™ve been up against it multiple times and Iโ€™ve showed people Iโ€™m not scared of fighting anyone. Iโ€™ll fight everyone and when my backโ€™s up against the wall I will perform,โ€ Craig said. โ€œWhen 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.

โ€œI showed my adaptability, Iโ€™ve been in them tough fights and got the job done.โ€

โ€œGood knockouts and it still didnโ€™t really put me on the map,โ€ he added. โ€œI never had all the accolades and the big promotion coming through but Iโ€™ve just literally been showing it through my talent.โ€

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