“Usyk can make an announcement now and just drop all the belts. Then everybody’s going to be talking like, who’s going to be the next champion, who do we want to see the matchups against through these vacant titles?” said Riakporhe to talkSport Boxing.
It was a clear reminder of how unstable heavyweight rankings can be once a champion steps aside. While fans often look at headline fights first, contenders lower down the ladder are usually watching sanctioning-body movement more closely than social media callouts.
Riakporhe has reason to pay attention. He said he was around #9 with the IBF before his latest victory, and a vacancy would create opportunities that do not exist while one man holds several belts.
“I’m just happy I’m right there. I’m in the mix now.”
That may be optimistic, but it is not empty talk. Heavyweight history is full of fighters who went from fringe contender to title challenger once titles split and the usual bottlenecks disappeared.
Riakporhe also made clear that his recent win was about more than collecting a domestic belt.
“It was very important just to let people know, look, I’m there.”
Riakporhe is waiting for the inevitable “ragmentation of the belts once Usyk finishes his business at the very top.
Usyk still controls the top of the division. The moment that changes, a long list of hopefuls will begin calling themselves the next man up. While Usyk holds the belts, the path is blocked for everyone except the elite few.
Read the full article here