“Usyk can make an announcement now and just drop all the belts. Then everyone’s going to be talking like, who’s going to be the next champion, who do we want to see the matches against through these vacant titles?” Riakporhe told talkSport Boxing.
It was a stark reminder of how unstable heavyweight rankings can be once a champion steps aside. While fans often watch headline fights first, contenders lower down the ladder usually watch the sanctioning body movement more closely than social media shoutouts.
Riakporhe has reason to pay attention. He said he was around #9 in the IBF before his latest win, and a vacancy will create opportunities that don’t exist while one man holds multiple belts.
“I’m just glad I’m right there. I’m in the mix now.”
It 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 it clear that his recent victory was about more than collecting a domestic belt.
“It was very important to just let people know, look, I’m there.”
Riakporhe is waiting for the inevitable “ragmentation of the belts” as soon as Usyk finishes his business at the top.
Usyk still controls the top of the division. The moment that changes, a long list of hopefuls will start calling themselves the next man. While Usyk holds the belts, the road is blocked for all but the elite few.
