I faced Anthony Joshua and Chris Eubank Jr, but ‘Body Snatcher’ hit me so hard my life ‘slowed down’

Richard Riakporhe fought against Anthony Joshua and Chris Eubank Jr, but one fighter hit him much harder.

The ‘Midnight Train’ will touch gloves with domestic cruiserweight rival Chris Billam-Smith in a rematch for the WBO world title at Selhurst Park, home of Premier League club Crystal Palace.

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During his career, the British star touched gloves with AJ in training in October 2022 when he was due to face Tyson Fury.

He also faced former middleweight world champion Eubank Jr in 2021, but was the target of a tough session.

But Riakporhe insisted in an interview with talkSPORT.com, that it was actually Dillian Whyte who shook him severely when the duo touched gloves in 2018.

“I would say Dillian Whyte hit me the hardest,” Riakporhe said.

“He hit me with a big blow with the lead hand, it was a kind of uppercut.

“He has a lot of power in his lead hand, and I got hit by that and everything slowed down.

“My whole life slowed down, it was a strange feeling saying the end.

“AJ can hit too, I took a shot at him.”

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Footage has emerged of his training session with Eubank Jr, who was asked to stop by his father after dominating the session from the opening horn.

Whyte was gearing up for an active year by beating Joseph Parker, Derek Chisora ​​and Lucas Browne in 2018, and Riakporhe was seen as an ideal partner to help the former world title challenger prepare.

Riakporhe held off a host of heavyweights overall, which could provide a fruitful platform to move up to the blue ribbon division in the future.

Joshua is a notorious power puncher and has a 90% knockout ratio throughout his boxing career, where he reigned as a two-time world champion.

He is expected to return in September and challenge the winner of Filip Hrgovic vs. Daniel Dubois with a fighter expected to hold the vacant IBF heavyweight title.

AJ is also still looking to challenge the winner of Fury’s clash with Oleksandr Usyk on May 18, but that could be scheduled for 2025.

Whyte, who Riakporhe praised all over, returned with a routine win over Christian Hammer in March.

He hasn’t set a new date yet, but there could be plenty of options ahead, including a shot of Joe Joyce or Parker.

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