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

FROM London to Las Vegas with Puerto Rico in the middle it was a busy night of boxing this past Saturday (June 15).

World titles were on the line and reputations were at stake at cruiserweight, light heavyweight super-lightweight and lightweight. And while the title winners; Chris Billam-Smith, Jack Massey, David Benavidez, Gervonta Davis and Liam Paro were duly celebrated for their victories so what does the future hold for those on the wrong end of the results?

Saturday night’s events did not end with the line for the hit Richard Riakporhe, Isaac Chamberlain, Oleksandr Gvozdyk, Frank Martin again Subriel Matias but the quintet will still have the bitter taste of defeat within them 48 hours removed from their fight.

Debate News looks at what might happen next for five men on the losing side and we start with “Night Train” Richard Riakporhe. Calmness and confidence in preparation for his WBO cruiserweight world title challenge against Chris Billam-Smith on the night proved disastrous for Riakporhe.

The 34-year-old was at home at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park and took to the ring wearing a Palace shirt with fans at his side and bookies who saw him as the unlikely favorite to take the title. The champion had other ideas, even though he was nicknamed ‘The Gentleman’, he was dressed in a dark black suit and looked unbeaten from start to finish.

Billam-Smith was looking to avenge the loss to Riakporhe in 2019 which is the only loss on his record. Bournemouth and coach Shane McGuigan had a game plan that was too clever for a one-sided Riakporhe to do anything about. He came out of the box, switched off and thought the strike force of Riakporhe could not be killed as Billam-Smith pulled any damaging shots that connected.

The defeat was a sad one for Riakporhe who had to go back to the drawing board with coach Angel Fernandez who was between the rounds urging his man to follow instructions. Having signed a contract with Boxxer last spring and being one of the new signings, there is still a future for Riakporhe but who can fight next? His ranking in the world in the WBO will be disturbed as he was defeated as a player who was forced to challenge but there are many opportunities for him in the category where fights are not difficult to find.

Billam-Smith’s opponent Mateusz Masternak it would be a useful exercise for Riakporhe whose explosiveness might be too great for the Polish veteran. Former world champion Mairis Briedis it is an attractive but inexpensive option. Cuban maker Yuniel Dorticos it would be half the friendly battle of the fans if he said yes like he would Callum Johnson who runs his business quietly and returned to sports.

If Riakporhe has struggled with weight and can no longer make the 200lbs limit then a move to Bridgerweight may be on the cards before making the jump to heavyweight. The worst split has been received recently Lawrence Okolie in their ranks who quickly became the WBC champion for his work of demolition of the Polish Lukasz Rozanski. Riakporhe and Okolie are not just rivals but two men who hate seeing each other and almost come to blows in February 2023 at the London premiere of Creed III. A professional fight between the two might look good on paper but it could prove difficult for the Boxxer’s partner broadcaster Sky Sports.

Chamberlain (L) tackles Massey (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Other Selhurst Park hitters were Isaac Chamberlain a potential cruiserweight alternative for Riakporhe who was defeated by Jack Massey in their European and Commonwealth cruiserweight championship.

Chamberlain tried to get under Massey’s skin all week when he said he was only human. Come fight night Chamberlain tried to get off the Marple man but it played right into his hands and he kept being held closer and closer. Chamberlain tried to force the action and in the second half of the fight he appeared to hurt Massey at times but Massey was the better man and should have won clearly.

The loss is Chamberlain’s third, having previously lost to Lawrence Okolie and Chris Billam-Smith. There is no shame in losing their battles with Massey but striker Brixton would have been heading for the world title if he had won on Saturday night. His natural battle was now to face it Vidal Riley who has made enough noise recently about facing Chamberlain and he may get his chance. Ellis Zorro – who has lost twice to top-level attacks in Jai Opetaia and Cheavon Clarke – should be considered.

Across the lake This is Frank Martin’s place his first move to the top level ended tragically with an eighth round loss to Gervonta “Tank” Davis who retained his WBA lightweight title.

The smart and athletic Martin made a promising start in the first three rounds but began to find himself on the ropes many times to the delight of Davis who then presented his world class boxing. At the age of 29 and with one loss on his record Martin could undoubtedly make a comeback but the top men at 135lbs have scattered to various promotions meaning Martin may continue to play second fiddle. However, there is a selection closer to home in the Premier Boxing Champion’s stable including Chris Colbert, Javier Fortuna or even polarizing Rolando Romero who lost to “Tank” two years ago.

Before Martin and Davis entered the ring for their main event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas David Benavidez and Oleksandr Gvozdyk they were there to provide a great support match that looked worthy of a light heavyweight.

This was Benavidez’s first fight at 175lbs which set back his pursuit of undefeated super-middleweight champion, Canelo Alvarez. And despite carrying various injuries in the ring on Saturday he managed to threaten his Ukrainian opponent with a unanimous decision win to take the interim WBC belt.

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

Despite being 37 years old Gvozdyk didn’t look like cannon fodder for Benavidez on Saturday night. The former WBC light heavyweight champion was tagged with a number of powerful shots but he sank them and landed his own and in the end he looked the younger of the two fighters but ended up not looking the winner.

However, there appears to be plenty of fights left for “The Nail” who already has two wins on his record though Benavidez and number one light-heavyweight Artur Beterbiev. After completing his three year and four month retirement from the sport Gvozdyk won three fights in a row against Josue Obando, Ricards Bolotniks and Isaac Rodrigues, respectively, before stepping up to face Benavidez.

of Britain Callum Smith – who also lost to Beterbiev in January – against Gvozdyk is an interesting prospect if both men continue to play. Vozdyk will want to continue fighting at the highest level that Smith can bring, Anthony Yarde and Marcus Browne on the table. Gvozdyk’s main goal was to challenge winner Beterbiev against Dmitry Bivol but Saturday was one step back and yet the former Olympic medalist is able to get back on track.

Matias lost his world title in front of his home fans to Liam Paro (Photo by Melina Pizano/Game Room.)

Meanwhile in Puerto Rico the reputation of Subriel Matias struck a chord when undefeated Australian Liam Paro entered the lion’s den and emerged as the IBF super-lightweight champion. Paro’s successful first six rounds saw Matias face it and the home favorite could do little to change the tough Aussie who was not to be denied.

Signed to Matchroom there is no shortage of options for Matias. Chances are we’ll see him return to one of Eddie Hearn’s American shows later in the year. A stable partner Regis Programs it would be an attractive proposition if the beaten champion wants to go back with another top-class operator or perhaps we see the 32-year-old face a similar opponent. Sergey Lipinets who was not for him. In Ireland Sean McComb – who was unlucky to lose to Arnold Barboza in April – may have the wrong style for Matias but the Puerto Rican will definitely fancy his chances of winning. Either way his reputation as one of the most dangerous men in boxing is on fire and the fire needs to be put out quickly.