Thursday 12 October 2017 10:03, UK
Craig Richards has revealed how health problems hampered his promising career, but hopes a move to light-heavyweight will allow him to demonstrate his true knockout power.
The unbeaten south Londoner is stepping up a division from super-middleweight for this Friday's fight against Istvan Zeller on the NXTGEN bill at York Hall in Bethnal Green, which is topped by Reece Bellotti's Commonwealth title clash with Jason Cunningham.
'Spider' Richards had to dig deep for his last two victories, edging out Alan Higgins in a March points win before battling to a verdict over Rui Manuel Pavanito in July, and admits the weight cut has sapped his fitness and power.
"As soon as I brought my weight down, my immune system crashed," Richards told Sky Sports. "For my last fight, that was a sinus infection, before the Higgins fight I had a chest infection. Now we're wondering if the weight loss keeps making me ill in training camps.
I'm a massive puncher at light-heavyweight, which I'm not at super-middleweight. I'll bring a lot more excitement and entertainment.
"We are going to see how I am at light-heavyweight, because my punch power is dramatically different. All the stoppages I've got have been at light-heavyweight, so maybe I'm losing a bit of power at super-middleweight.
"You will definitely see more knockouts. I'm a massive puncher at that weight and I'll bring a lot more excitement. Hopefully I can put on an entertaining show this Friday for everyone."
The 27-year-old has been sharpening his skills in sparring sessions with Joshua Buatsi, but does not think a switch to the same division will necessarily lead to a showdown with the Olympic bronze medallist.
"The sparring is always good with me and Josh. We got some good rounds in," said Richards.
"I've known Josh for a while, quite a few years. We often train around each other, and we're both from south London.
"We are on the same [Matchroom boxing] team and around the same camp, so I can't see us crossing paths."
Richards, a former Southern Area champion, wants to be moved towards more title fights and would welcome an appearance on the undercard for the Tony Bellew-David Haye rematch at The O2 on December 17, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
"It would be great to get a good fight on the undercard for Haye-Bellew," he said. "That would be perfect for me really.
"I want to be very active and progress quite fast now. Start challenging for bigger titles in the near future."
Watch NXTGEN, featuring Reece Bellotti, Craig Richards, Charlie Edwards, Natasha Jonas and more, live from York Hall, from 8.00pm, Friday, on Sky Sports Action.
