Richard Riakporhe - Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now
From fashion campaigns for Dior and Burberry, British boxer Richard Riakporhe shares his inspiring journey with SID Magazine, from his achievements as the British Cruiserweight champion to his philanthropic efforts with The Richard Riakporhe Foundation, aimed at empowering school children and raising awareness about crime and positive thinking
Richard Riakporhe photographed by Vic Lentaigne in London / Styling by Sylvester Yiu / Grooming by Bianca Simone Scott @ The Only Agency using Fenty Beauty and ARKIVE Headcare scalp serum / Photography assistant: Darren Skene / Studio: The Cove Studio / Special thanks to Andrew and IMG.
Patchwork jacket by ACNE STUDIOS
SID: Your journey from a troubled youth immersed in gang culture to becoming a professional boxer and anti-gang activist is truly inspiring. What inspired you to make the pivotal decision to pursue boxing and turn your life around?
RR: After analysing my surroundings I realised that very few people get to live the life that they desire and many dreams fail to materialised. This is due to various reasons but we’ve only got our cards to play so I decided to play my cards in the best way possible which resulted in where I am now.
Boxing gear - Richard’s own
As the current World Boxing Association Inter-Continental and British Cruiserweight champion, you've achieved significant success in your boxing career. Can you share with us some of the highlights of your journey so far, and the challenges you've overcome along the way?
I’ve won many titles including the British Cruiserweight title, WBA intercontinental tile and the WBC silver title. Some of the highlights of my career were achieving victory in fights when the odds were stacked against me which developed a deeper understanding of who I am as a human being as well as as an athlete. I could be down on the score cards but I will always find a way to win.
Vintage scarf with floral print by CHANEL
Your foundation, The Richard Riakporhe Foundation, is dedicated to promoting positive thinking among schoolchildren and raising awareness about the dangers of knife crime. How do you approach engaging with communities and inspiring young people to choose a path away from violence and crime?
Growing up as a teen I became a productive of my environment. Positive role models were slim to none and a lack guidance influenced my decision making in a negative way. After experiencing some successes and looking back in hindsight I realized less than half a percent of individuals make it out of these environments although there’s a well full of talent. This prompted me to create the Richard Riakporhe foundation to give to my community, support and help nurture talent.
Shell and silver earring by ACNE STUDIOS
Balancing a successful boxing career with your advocacy work must be demanding. How do you manage to juggle these responsibilities, and what drives you to continue making a difference outside of the ring?
Balancing outside responsibilities is always tough and it demands organization and discipline. What helps me is a quote that I live by that says “more can always be done”. I’m driven by adding some sort of value to the world, and my existence being significant in history when my time is up.
Boxing gear - Richard’s own
Who are some of the individuals or figures that have inspired and influenced you on your journey, both in boxing and in your activism work?
I never really had any role models, but I was inspired by a lot of individuals that came from nothing and went on to achieve great things in life. I can only relate to these individuals and I respect some of their journeys depending on their endeavours of course.
Shell and silver earring by ACNE STUDIOS
Looking ahead, what are some of your aspirations and goals, both in your boxing career and in your efforts to combat gang culture and knife crime? How do you envision making a lasting impact on communities in the years to come?
My goals in boxing is to win a lot of major championships and to contribute to society in a positive way.
Finally, what do you think SID stands for?
I believe this is an acronym for someone’s name.
Shell and silver earring by ACNE STUDIOS
For more information about The Richard Riakoporhe Foundation, please visit richardriakporhe.co.uk
Ain’t No Stopping Us Now preformed by McFadden & Whitehead (1979)
