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Richard Liakporje continued his march to a world cruiserweight title shot as he held off former WBO champion Krzysztof Growadzki in the Eubank Smith bill in Manchester in the fourth round.
The 33-year-old Riakporhe has plenty of power, too much for Glowacki, who was in trouble every time Riakporhe opened. However, Liakpolge may have to wait a little longer, as former opponent and fellow boxer-signed Chris Billam-Smith appears to be eyeing a world title in late spring.
“We wanted a knockout win and we were expecting a round 3 or 4, so some people at the gym who made the bets would be happy,” Liakpolge said. “We are on the train. Next stop is All Champions.”
He called on Jai Opetaire, Ilunga Makab, Lawrence Okory and Arsene Gramilian. “I know a lot about you and I think about you every day when I go to bed.” Trust me, we will come for you.
The first round and a half was caged as Liakpolge shoved his jab and Growadzki tried to create an opening without overcommitting. However, as is often the case at Riakporhe, he suddenly springs into action, landing straight right over Glowacki’s left, causing Paul’s knee to buckle.
He almost landed when Riakporhe flew forward, but Riakporhe then landed a big right that Riakporhe wore very well.
Liakpolge returned to his jab in the third round, when Growadzki slipped and slid to try to break in.
The methodical approach continued into the final 30 seconds of the fourth round, when Riakporhe fired a right followed by a left to the body, a four-shot salvo putting Glowacki in serious trouble and pinning him in the corner. Liakpolge landed two more overcast rights before referee Howard Foster dove in to stop it at 2:44 of the round.
Billam-Smith joined Riakporhe in the ring after the fight, but a rematch for the pair is unlikely until at least one of them wins the world title. “We both want world titles. We need to go away and win world titles and make it a huge fight. Everyone will want to see it again.
Ron Lewis is a Senior Writer for BoxingScene. He was the Times’ boxing correspondent from 2001 until he was in 2019, covering his four Olympics and numerous world title fights around the world. He has written about boxing for various publications around the world since his 1980s.
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