Weekend Reaction: What next for Riakporhe, Chamberlain, Gvozdyk, Martin and Matias?

FROM London to Las Vegas with Puerto Rico sandwiched in between it was a busy evening for boxing this previous Saturday (June 15).

World titles have been on the road and reputations have been at stake at cruiserweight, mild heavyweight super-lightweight and light-weight. And whereas the headline winners; Chris Billam-Smith, Jack Massey, David Benavidez, Gervonta Davis and Liam Paro are rightly celebrated for their victories what does the longer term maintain for these on the improper finish of the outcomes?

Saturday evening’s occasions weren’t the tip of the road for the crushed Richard Riakporhe, Isaac Chamberlain, Oleksandr Gvozdyk, Frank Martin and Subriel Matias however the quintet will probably be nonetheless have the bitter style of defeat inside them 48 hours faraway from their fights.

Boxing News appears at what might be next for the 5 males on the dropping facet and we start with “The Midnight Train” Richard Riakporhe. Cool and assured within the run-up to his WBO cruiserweight world title problem towards Chris Billam-Smith the evening proved to be one thing of a catastrophe for Riakporhe.

The 34-year-old was on house turf at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park and walked to the ring in a Palace colored gown with followers on his facet and the bookies who noticed him as an odds-on favorite to take the title. The champion had different concepts and regardless of being nicknamed ‘The Gentleman’ he was wearing villainous black and appeared like a person who wouldn’t be crushed from starting to finish.

Billam-Smith was out for revenge having misplaced to Riakporhe in 2019 which is the one defeat on his document. The Bournemouth and coach Shane McGuigan had a gameplan which was too intelligent for a one-dimensional Riakporhe to do something about. Out-boxed, suffocated and out-thought the knockout energy of Riakporhe couldn’t be really executed with Billam-Smith absorbing any hurtful pictures that did join.

The defeat was a sobering one for Riakporhe who should return to the drafting board with coach Angel Fernandez who in between rounds was pleading together with his man to comply with directions. Having signed a contract extension with Boxxer final spring and been one among their early signings there’s nonetheless a future for Riakporhe however who may he battle next? His world rating with the WBO will probably be affected having misplaced as their necessary challenger however there are sufficient alternatives for him in a division the place fights aren’t onerous to seek out.

Former Billam-Smith opponent Mateusz Masternak might be a worthwhile train for Riakporhe whose firepower would possible be an excessive amount of for the Polish veteran. Former world champion Mairis Briedis is a pretty choice however wouldn’t come low cost. Cuban entertainer Yuniel Dorticos could be one half of a fan pleasant battle if he have been to say sure as would Callum Johnson who’s going about his enterprise quietly having returned to the game.

If Riakporhe has struggled with the burden and can now not do the 200lbs restrict then a transfer to Bridgerweight could also be on the playing cards earlier than a logical leap to heavyweight. The a lot maligned division not too long ago welcomed Lawrence Okolie to their ranks who rapidly grew to become WBC champion together with his Polish demolition job on Lukasz Rozanski. Riakporhe and Okolie should not simply rivals however two males who don’t just like the sight of each other and almost got here to blows in February 2023 on the London premiere of Creed III. Knowledgeable battle between the 2 could look good on paper however could also be a troublesome promote to Boxxer’s broadcast companion Sky Sports.

Chamberlain (L) in motion towards Massey (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Another of Selhurst Park’s crushed fighters have been Isaac Chamberlain who could also be one other cruiserweight different for Riakporhe having misplaced to Jack Massey throughout their European and Commonwealth cruiserweight contest.

Chamberlain had tried to get beneath the pores and skin of Massey all week whereas claiming he was simply being himself. Come battle evening Chamberlain tried to stroll down the person from Marple however performed proper into his arms and was constantly caught at vary and up shut. Chamberlain tried to pressure the motion and within the second half of the battle did seem to harm Massey from time to time however Massey was the higher man general and clearly deserved his win.

The defeat is Chamberlain’s third having misplaced to Lawrence Okolie and Chris Billam-Smith beforehand. There is not any disgrace in dropping to fighters of these and Massey’s calibre however the Brixton fighter would have been heading within the route of a world title shot had he received on Saturday evening. The pure battle for him now could be to face Viddal Riley who has made sufficient noise not too long ago about dealing with Chamberlain and could now get his probability. Ellis Zorro – who has misplaced two on the bounce to high quality opposition in Jai Opetaia and Cheavon Clarke – also needs to be thought of.

Across the pond Frank Martin’s first transfer to elite stage ended painfully with a crushing eighth spherical knockout defeat to Gervonta “Tank” Davis who retained his WBA light-weight title within the course of.

The skilful and athletic Martin made a promising begin within the first three rounds however started to seek out himself on the ropes too typically a lot to the delight of Davis who then unloaded his world-class energy punches. At 29 and with only one loss on his document Martin can unquestionably come once more however the main males at 135lbs are scattered throughout numerous promotional firms that means Martin could should proceed to play second fiddle. However, there are decisions nearer to house within the Premier Boxing Champion steady together with Chris Colbert, Javier Fortuna and even the polarising Rolando Romero who misplaced to “Tank” two years in the past.

Before Martin and Davis stepped into the ring for their major occasion on the MGM Grand in Las Vegas David Benavidez and Oleksandr Gvozdyk have been available to supply a worthy trying chief assist contest at mild heavyweight.

This was the primary battle for Benavidez at 175lbs having postponed his chase of undisputed super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez. And regardless of carrying numerous accidents into the ring on Saturday he dealt with the harmful menace of his Ukrainian opponent to win a unanimous resolution and take with him the WBC interim strap.

What now for Gvozdyk (R) after his second defeat? (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

Despite being 37 years outdated Gvozdyk didn’t appear like cannon fodder for Benavidez on Saturday evening. The former WBC mild heavyweight champion was tagged with a number of energy pictures however soaked them up and had success of his personal and in direction of the tip appeared the brisker of the 2 fighters however finally by no means appeared like successful.

There, nonetheless, seems to be loads of battle left in “The Nail” who now has two defeats on his document albeit to Benavidez and the primary light-heavyweight Artur Beterbiev. Having ended this three-year and 4 month retirement from the game Gvozdyk received three consecutive fights towards Josue Obando, Ricards Bolotniks and Isaac Rodrigues, respectively, earlier than stepping as much as face Benavidez.

Britain’s Callum Smith – who himself misplaced to Beterbiev in January – towards Gvozdyk is an intriguing prospect if each males have been to hold on within the sport. Gvozdyk will need to proceed combating on the highest stage doable which may deliver Smith, Anthony Yarde and Marcus Browne to the desk. Gvozdyk’s final purpose was to problem the winner of Beterbiev towards Dmitry Bivol however Saturday was a case of 1 step again nonetheless the previous Olympic medallist is able to shifting ahead as soon as once more.

Matias misplaced his world title in entrance of house followers to Liam Paro (Photo by Melina Pizano/Matchroom.)

Meanwhile in Puerto Rico the popularity of Subriel Matias took a thump when Australia’s unbeaten Liam Paro walked into the lion’s den and walked out as IBF super-lightweight champion. A profitable first six rounds for Paro had Matias up towards it and the house favorite may do little to shift the steely Aussie who was not going to be denied.

Signed to Matchroom there aren’t a scarcity of choices for Matias. The chances are we see him return on one among Eddie Hearn’s American exhibits later within the 12 months. Stable-mate Regis Prograis might be a pretty proposition if the crushed champion desires to return in with one other elegant operator or maybe we see the 32-year-old face an opponent like Sergey Lipinets who might be made for him. Ireland’s Sean McComb – who was desperately unfortunate to lose to Arnold Barboza in April – could have the improper type for Matias however the Puerto Rican would certainly fancy his probabilities of successful. Either method his popularity as one among boxing’s most harmful males is presently in flames and the fireplace must be put out promptly.