Joseph Obey Joyce vs. Richard Riakporhe

This is an interesting crossroads fight

I like Riakporhe but he is somewhat unproven and 35. Joyce has faced and beaten better fighters but is also old and shopworn.

I can see a scenario where Riakporhe out boxes Joyce and wins but I can also see Joyce overwhelm the smaller and less experienced Riakpore.

I'm not a fan of Joyce but this seems like a good fight, a guy with a name in the UK market who is less of a risk than the top 10 at heavyweight

 

Joyce should be able to get himself back on track of sorts if this gets signed
Riakporhe is as basic a boxer as it goes

It's a decent undercard fight as Joyce always entertains.. Well me at least

 

If Joyce has much left in the tank he should take this, but his chin is cracked and he his just getting older and slower.

Riakporhe isn't exactly a spring daisy himself, but he has got have les smile age on the clock than Joyce.

 

I like this fight.

If we're getting anywhere near a prime Joyce, he easily outworks and breaks Riakporhe down. Hard to gauge how good Riakporhe is as a HW, but he was a solid powerful CW even though he had some pretty glaring flaws especially his work rate and his technical ability.

I don't have the best history of judging fighters based on their last fights as I overrated Whyte as he was the type of fighter that wouldn't train and have a bad sloppy night as a result, or train hard and have a great night. But, Joyce has been competitive enough against some strong opposition in Hrgovic and Chisora even if Joyce may be well past it along with his chin.

Riakporhe's best chance for me is getting an early KO considering his poor work rate and inexperience in the later rounds as a HW unlike Joyce. I'll fancy a Joyce points win, especially if its a 12 rounder, will probably be 10 rounds though.

 

Joyce turned 40 this week, looks heavy and thick set and pretty worn facially. I don’t know if he can stop this 1-4 run of form he’s in, especially when the lone win was against Kash Ali. End of the road regardless for the Juggernaut.

 

The contract is rumoured to include a stipulation that the winner gets a night with Madonna.

I'd be taking dive.

 

All Joyce's defeats have been against Top 10ish HWs, and against two of those opponents he was very competitive. The idea that his chin is cracked is ridiculous considering the amount of clean punches he took against Chisora and Hrgovic, and he was only stopped by one of the most powerful one-shot hitters ever in HW boxing.

Riakhpore is pretty poor in my books, and awful to watch, but he is awkward and Joyce is certainly past his best. I'd like Joyce to win, but it's a close one to call.

 

Agree Riakpoor sucks, a shot Joe pummels him

 

Yeah, I think Joyce still has enough to outbox him pretty convincingly but I suspect Riakporhe has pretty heavy hands like Wardley.

For me, Riakporhe is like a poorer version of Wardley to be honest.

 

Joyce is shot and being used as a stepping stool. Riakpore decision. All Richard needs to win against Joyce is good fundamentals at this point