LONDON, UK (February 20, 2024) – Viddal Riley has signed a long-term contract extension to commit his future to BOXXER and Sky Sports.

The rising cruiserweight star joined BOXXER in 2021 and has quickly established himself as one of the most exciting talents in a thriving domestic division.

The 26-year-old captured the English Cruiserweight Title with a shut-out points victory over Nathan Quarless last September and is set to face his toughest career test as he steps up to face former British Champion Mikael Lawal as part of BOXXER’s bumper ‘Bad Blood’ bill on Sunday, March 31st at The O2 in London.

“My aim is to become world champion and with BOXXER and Sky Sports I know I’m in the right place to make that happen,” said Riley. “I’ve got a great team around me and a huge platform to showcase my skills.

“Winning the English Title is just the start. I want to work my way up to be British, European and then World champion. We’ve only just started and there’s an exciting road ahead. I can’t wait to continue my journey with BOXXER and Sky Sports.”

BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom said: “We’re delighted that Viddal has signed a long-term contract extension. He is without a doubt one of the most talented and marketable fighters this country has produced. In the next 12 months, we are going to see him rise from English to World level. The sky’s the limit for Viddal and there’s nowhere better for him to be than with BOXXER on Sky Sports.”

An amateur standout, Riley was an eight-time national champion. He won silver at the 2013 European Junior Championship and represented Team GB at the 2014 Youth Olympic before turning pro with Mayweather Promotions in 2018.

Riley’s first fight under the BOXXER promotional banner was on the Amir Khan vs Kell Brook undercard on February 19th, 2022, where the Hackney-born fighter scored a unanimous points win against Willbeforce Shihepo.

Four stoppage victories followed as Riley continued to impress with wins over Jone Valau, Ross McGuigan and Anees Taj twice to set up his successful English Title challenge.

Riley has built a huge following online. His YouTube channel has over 1.2million subscribers. Outside of the ring, the multi-talented fighter releases his own mixtapes and music videos and has a clothing line dropping soon labelled ‘Livin’ Sports By RIL’.

LONDON, UK (February 16, 2024) – Cruiserweight rivals Viddal Riley and Mikael Lawal collide in a special bet365 Wildcard contest as part of BOXXER’s bumper ‘Bad Blood’ bill at The O2 in London on Sunday, March 31st, live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA.

Riley (10-0, 6 KOs) returns to action following a shut-out points win over Nathan Quarless to capture the English Cruiserweight Title last September at York Hall. The talented Tottenham man has set his sights on the big fights in a stacked domestic division and can expect his toughest career test when he faces London rival Lawal.

Lawal (17-1, 11 KOs) will be looking to get back to winning ways having lost his British Cruiserweight Title to Isaac Chamberlain in October. The heavy-handed fighter from Shepherd’s Bush has the chance for redemption as he gets straight back into the domestic mix with another high-profile contest against undefeated opposition.

Viddal Riley said: “I look forward to the first notable name in my career being ticked off. I respect Lawal as a former British champion and as we know that’s a goal of mine so this is a perfect level check.”

Mikael Lawal said: “I’ve been legit, my journey in this sport is well documented. I’m just here to work and take care of business.”

BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom said: “Viddal Riley vs Mikael Lawal is another exciting addition to an already action-packed night of boxing. Credit to both men for taking this fight. Viddal Riley is taking a serious step up against a very dangerous fighter in Mikael Lawal, who has everything to prove following his defeat to Isaac Chamberlain. It really is a wildcard contest. I’m expecting an all-action fight between the two Londoners on Sunday, March 31st at The O2.”

Unbeaten heavyweight rivals Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke clash in a ‘Bad Blood’ showdown for the British and Commonwealth Titles on Sunday, March 31st at The O2 in London, live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA.

Florian Marku and Chris Kongo settle their simmering welterweight rivalry as part of a stacked undercard that also features future boxing superstar Ben Whittaker, the return of Alen ‘The Savage’ Babic against Steve Robinson and rising super middleweight contender Callum Simpson.

This event is presented in association with official partners bet365, Everlast, WOW HYDRATE, Integritas Property Group, Fastline Steel Services and VOW Nutrition.

Tickets, priced from just £30, are available now via BOXXER.com

Isaac Chamberlain won a 12-round unanimous decision over Miakel Lawal in a cruiserweight bout at York Hall in London, England.

Chamberlain, 199, lbs of Brixton, ENG won by scores of 118-110 twice and 117-111 and is now 16-2. Lawal, 198 lbs of Sheperd’s Bush, ENG is 17-1.

Sam Gilley won a 12-round unanimous decision over Louis Greene in a super welterweight fight.

In round five, Gilley dropped Greene with a left to the body.

Gilley, 154 lbs of Walthamstow, ENG won by scores of 118-110, 117-110 and 116-111 and is now 17-1. Greene, 152 lbs of Strood, ENG is 16-4.

Joe Laws won an eight-round decision over Michael Hennessy Jr. in a super middleweight fight.

Laws, 165 lbs of Benwell, ENG won by a score of 77-75 and is now 14-2. Hennessy, 164 lbs of Sevenoaks, ENG is 11-2-1.

Kariss Artingstall remained undefeated with a stoppage after round two of her featherweight bout with Vanessa Bradford.

In round one, Artingstall dropped Bradford with a straight left hand. In round two, it was another straight left that put Bradford on the deck.

Artingstall, 126 lbs of Maccesfield, ENG is 5-0 with one knockout. Bradford, 125 lbs of Edmonton, CAN is 7-5-2.

Tomorrow night’s British Cruiserweight Championship and Commonwealth Cruiserweight Championship bout between defending champion Mikael Lawal and challenger Isaac Chamberlain is officially on as both fighters made weight at today’s pre-fight weigh-in ahead of Saturday’s BOXXER event at York Hall.

Saturday night’s event airs live and exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK and is available live and on demand on NBC Sports streaming platform Peacock in the USA.

Commonwealth super-welterweight champion Louis Greene also made weight to make his bout with challenger Sam Gilley official, as did Karriss Artingstall, Vanessa Bradford, Michael Hennessy Jr and Joe Laws.

Lawal and Chamberlain top the bill in York Hall following the postponement of the world title final eliminator showdown between Josha Buatsi and Dan Azeez due to an injury sustained by Azeez in his final training session this week. 

Tickets for the postponed Buatsi v Azeez bout at The O2 will automatically remain valid for the newly rescheduled date, which will be communicated soon. A full refund is available to all ticket holders via their original ticket provider.

Tickets for York Hall on Saturday are now on general sale from £35. General sale is on a first come first served basis and expected to sell out today.

This Saturday’s broadcast begins at 7.30pm on Sky Sports Arena and Sky Showcase.

The full weigh-in results are as follows:

12 x 3 mins – British & vacant Commonwealth Cruiserweight Championship 

@ 14st 4lbs (200 lbs) (90.72 kgs)

MIKAEL LAWAL (14st 2lbs) vs. ISAAC CHAMBERLAIN (14st 3lbs)

(Shepherd’s Bush) (Brixton)

12 x 3 mins – Commonwealth Super Welterweight Championship & British Super Welterweight Final eliminator @ 11st (154 lbs) (69.85 kgs)

LOUIS GREENE (10st 12lbs) vs. SAM GILLEY (11st)

(Strood). (Walthamstow)

8 x 3 mins – Super Welterweight contest @ 11st 11lbs (165 lbs) (74.84 kgs)

MICHAEL HENNESSY JR (11st 10lbs ) vs. JOE LAWS (11st 11lbs)

(Sevenoaks). (Benwell)

8 x 2 mins – Featherweight contest @ 9st (126 lbs) (57.15 kgs) 

KARRISS ARTINGSTALL (9st) vs. VANESSA BRADFORD (8st 13 lbs)

(Macclesfield). (Canada)

First fight: 19:30

Mikael Lawal and Isaac Chamberlain exchanged heated words at today’s final press conference as the British cruiserweight rivals prepare to settle their long running feud on Saturday night at London’s iconic York Hall, live on Sky Sports Arena and Sky Sports Showcase.

Hailing from opposite sides of London, the two former sparring partners are now bitter rivals who have been getting into heated exchanges every time they’ve been brought face to face in the build-up to what is one of the most highly-anticipated domestic fights of the year. . 

On the line is both Lawal’s British Cruiserweight Championship and the vacant Commonwealth Cruiserweight Championship, along with all-important London bragging rights. 

The card also features Commonwealth super-welterweight champion Louis Greene defending against Sam Gilley, Olympic bronze medallist Karriss Artingstall facing Canadian former world title challenger ‘Vicious’ Vanessa Bradford and Michael Hennessy Jr facing fan favourite Joe Laws.

Final quotes:

BEN SHALOM:

“It’s been a crazy 48 hours. I’ve never experienced anything like it. But I think when things get tough, that’s when you learn about yourself, that’s when you learn about your team. To see the passion from the team and from Sky,  to fight for the show to stay on and to be able to move venues like they did, was incredible. 

“I’m delighted and excited now, to be here and be looking forward to an amazing night at York Hall this Saturday. It’s going to be one of the biggest nights I think the venue has ever seen.”

MIKAEL LAWAL 

“He’s not winding me up. It’s all irrelevant, on Saturday we’re going to fight… All the talking this guy’s been doing. We can finally lay it to rest.

“If I land, definitely [I knock him out]. I’m just going to beat him. I just find a way to win.”

ISAAC CHAMBERLAIN 

“I’ll knock [Lawal] out. It’s going to be big, finally all of this comes to a close on Saturday and I’ll be crowned the new British and Commonwealth cruiserweight champion.”

“I’ve come a long way, I’m enjoying the journey.”

LOUIS GREENE, defending Commonwealth Super-Welterweight Champion

“I believe I can beat Sam, he believes he can beat me, with his style and my style there’s going to be fireworks, it’s going to go off.

“This is combat, we’re here to fight and when you’ve stopped boxing do you want to have a look at your record and have a list of 30 men who just danced for a few rounds or do you want to be in memorable fights?

SAM GILLEYchallenger

“We don’t need to sell it as bad blood. We’re both very aggressive, very strong, we both punch, so it makes for a good fight. His strengths work for my weaknesses and my strengths work for his weaknesses, so it’s down to whoever makes the least mistakes. So, it’s going to be explosive.

KARRISS ARTINGSTALL

“She’s not going to teach me anything in the pro ring. Boxing’s boxing. On Saturday night I want to show what I have been working on, I do work very hard. I just want to show my skills.”

VANESSA BRADFORD

“This is the pro game and I’m excited to show her what the pros is all about on Saturday night.”

MICHAEL HENNESSY JR

“When we sparred your head was like a magnet for my hands. I’m sending you out of pro boxing, you’re going to Misfits.”

JOE LAWS

“I’m not a boxer, I’m a fighter – I’m getting stuck clean in, I wear my heart on my sleeve and I’m getting the win. Nobody thinks I’m going to win, most of my friends don’t think I’m going to win, but I do.

“When I knock him out, that propels me to big fights. Of course, I’m the underdog – I’ve been eating cheesecake and drinking cocktails. If you want to drink champagne, you’ve got to take chances, and that’s why I’ve taken this shot.”

Lawal and Chamberlain top the bill in York Hill following the postponement of the world title final eliminator showdown between Josha Buatsi and Dan Azeez due to an injury sustained by Azeez in his final training session this week. 

Tickets for the postponed Buatsi v Azeez bout at The O2 will automatically remain valid for the newly rescheduled date, which will be communicated soon. A full refund is available to all ticket holders via their original ticket provider.

Tickets for York Hall on Saturday are now on general sale from £35. General sale is on a first come first served basis and expected to sell out today.

This Saturday’s broadcast begins at 7.30pm on Sky Sports Arena and Sky Showcase.

London, England – (October 13, 2023) – For the millions who will be watching around the world – and the ten thousand fans inside The O2 – the wait is almost over:  #1-ranked light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi and #2-ranked Dan Azeez will do battle just X days from now.

And fans now know the exact time the two light-heavyweight heroes will be in the ring, as ringwalk times have today been confirmed for the Saturday, October 21st showdown which will see a new world title contender emerge.

Dan Azeez will make his ringwalk at 9.45pm, followed by Buatsi, with the final eliminator showdown between them expected to start around 10pm. The winner will emerge in pole position for a shot at the WBA World Light-Heavyweight Championship held by Dmitry Bivol.

Ringwalk times have also been confirmed for the highly-anticipated chief support bout, a bad blood British Cruiserweight Championship clash between bitter rivals Mikael Lawal and Isaac Chamberlain. 

Chamberlain will walk to the ring at 8.45pm to await defending champion Lawal, setting up a seismic clash expected to commence at 9pm. 

All the action is available live and exclusively on Sky Sports Arena and Sky Sports Showcase from 7pm and Sky Sports Main Event from 10pm. 

The full card is as follows:

12 x 3 mins – WBA World Light Heavyweight Final Eliminator, British Light Heavyweight Championship, Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Championship @ 12st 7lbs

JOSHUA BUATSI vs DAN AZEEZ

(Croydon). (Lewisham)

12 x 3 mins – British & vacant Commonwealth Cruiserweight Championship @ 14st 4lbs 

MIKAEL LAWAL. V. ISAAC CHAMBERLAIN

(Shepherd’s Bush) (Brixton)

12 x 3 mins – Commonwealth Super Welterweight Championship & Bri?sh Super Welterweight Final eliminator @ 11st

LOUIS GREENE. V. SAM GILLEY

(Strood). (Walthamstow)

8 x 2 mins – Featherweight contest @ 9st

KARRISS ARTINGSTALL. V. VANESSA BRADFORD 

(Macclesfield). (Canada)

8 x 3 mins – Super Welterweight contest @11st 6lbs

MICHAEL HENNESSY JR. V. JOE LAWS 

(Sevenoaks). (Benwell)

London, England – (August 2, 2023) – A decade-long friendship will be put to one side on Saturday, October 21st when top light-heavyweights Joshua Buatsi (17-0, 13 KO’s) and ‘Super’ Dan Azeez (19-0, 13 KO’s) meet in storied London arena The O2 in an unbeaten all-domestic clash.

Airing live and exclusively on Sky Sports, the BOXXER: BUATSI VS AZEEZ – PATHS COLLIDE main event sees two friends turn rivals for a mouth-watering all-business clash between two top fighters in their prime and ready to lay it all in the line. 

Although both fighters started their journey in the same South London amateur boxing club, two very different paths have set them on a collision course next month.

Buatsi turned professional bathed in the glow of a bronze medal won for Team GB at the 2016 Olympics, while Azeez – having chosen to focus on first completing his finance degree – eventually entered the professional ranks at the bottom of small-hall cards. 

Azeez’s hard road to the top has made him a record-setter: he is the only light-heavyweight in British boxing history to have won every British Boxing Board of Control domestic title in the hierarchy, from area title through to national, British and Commonwealth.

Buatsi – himself a former British light-heavyweight championship holder – returned to the ring earlier this year to dominate the previously undefeated Pawel Stepien, while Azeez went on the road to defeat French champion Thomas Fauré in Paris for the European Light-Heavyweight Championship.

Also confirmed for the October 21st card today is a British cruiserweight championship clash as Mikael Lawal defends his title against Isaac Chamberlain. The rivalry between the two Londoners has simmered for some time but ignited at a press conference earlier this year and looks set to be settled in explosive fashion when they finally meet in the ring.

“This is a huge fight for British boxing and it has ‘Fight of the Year’ potential. Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez are standouts in a very deep division and they are two of the most talented and hungry fighters I’ve ever seen,” said Ben Shalom, BOXXER CEO. 

“Buatsi’s right to compete at this level has never been questioned but Azeez has had to fight every step of the way here and you have to give credit to Buatsi for taking a risk like this. It’s been an incredible journey and with both of them now potentially just one win away from challenging for the world title in a huge-money fight, I think we’re going to see something special in The 02 on October 21st. These are the fights British boxing fans want to see.”

“We’ve been friends for years but there’s too much on the line here for either of us to say no to this fight. We can be friends again afterwards but on October 21st it’s all business. I’m preparing to beat the best version of Dan Azeez and I’m doing everything I need to do to achieve that, whether that’s by decision or knockout,” said Buatsi.

Azeez said, “I’ve earned my way to get to this stage of my career and there’s still more to earn and prove. This fight is another step closer to the top and it means a lot to me so I’m preparing like I always do for everything and anything in order to be victorious come October 21st.”

BOXXER: BUATSI VS AZEEZ – PATHS COLLIDE takes place Saturday, October 21st at The O2, London and airs live and exclusively in the UK and Ireland on Sky Sports.

This event is presented in association with official partners Everlast, WOW HYDRATE and Village Hotels.

Hard-hitting heavyweight prospect Jeamie TKV will fight in front of his north London faithful for BOXXER: Breakthrough on a ‘Super Sunday’ at Alexandra Palace on November 27th.

In what is an action-packed weekend of sport, BOXXER brings a festival feeling to the nation’s capital and a new boxing experience – and unbeaten London fighter TKV will be hoping to send his legion of followers home happy, just a stone’s throw away from his hometown in Tottenham.

Ferocious featherweights Rhys Edwards and Jimmy Lee will be in action respectively, whilst undefeated middleweight George Mitchell joins next month’s cracking card in the capital, live and exclusively in the UK and Republic of Ireland on Sky Sports.

Fight fans can look forward to an unmissable feast of activities at ‘Ally Pally’ in an afternoon jam-packed with 50:50 fights and some of the country’s future superstars.

Adam ‘The Assassin’ Azim, a generational talent and the most exciting prospect in British boxing today, faces a tough test which will draw even more attention to his ever-growing profile as he tops the bill against the wily and experienced campaigner Rylan Charlton in the main event.

Mikael Lawal and Deion Jumah collide for the British cruiserweight championship, as super middleweights Lerrone Richards and Zak Chelli go head-to-head. Sam Gilley and Sean Robinson battle for the English super-welterweight title as rising stars Shannon Ryan and Hassan Azim complete the bill.

MEDIA CAN APPLY FOR ACCREDITATION TODAY – CLICK HERE FOR NOVEMBER 27th CREDENTIALS

Meanwhile, you can also apply for accreditation for our forthcoming show at the AO Arena in Manchester on Saturday, November 12th.

Natasha Jonas fights for the unified world super-welterweight championship against Canada’s Marie-Eve Dicaire, as Dalton Smith defends his British super-lightweight title against Kaisee Benjamin, and Bradley Rea challenges Tyler Denny for the English middleweight belt.

And after BOXXER’s blockbuster show concludes, the legendary Ricky Hatton returns – led by Europa Combat – for an exhibition fight with Mexican great Marco Antonio Barrera on the same night. Don’t miss out on what promises to be a memorable evening.

Mikael Lawal (12-0, 7 KOs) has been shortlisted for the Boxing Writers’ Club Young Boxer of the Year award following a stellar 2019 that has seen him crowned winner of the cruiserweight edition of the Ultimate Boxxer tournament.

Having dropped both Antony Woolery and David Jamieson in points victories on route to the Ultimate Boxxer final, Lawal, who is promoted by Team Sauerland and trains out of Stonebridge Boxing Club, produced a spectacular knockout performance against Damian Chambers to take home the prize money.

“Winning Ultimate Boxxer was great,” said Lawal. “I’d visualised winning it, I dreamed about winning it, but the reality was even better than I imagined.”

The 24-year-old has been nominated for the prestigious award alongside top UK prospects Conor Benn, Ted Cheeseman, Keiron Conway, Daniel Dubois, Sunny Edwards, Kash Farooq, Brad Foster, Terri Harper and Archie Sharp.

Previous winners of the Boxing Writers’ Club Young Boxer Of The Year include Billy Joe Saunders, Naseem Hamed, Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe. The trophy will be presented at the club’s 68th annual dinner at The Savoy next month.

“I was pleasantly surprised when I heard from my manager that I had been nominated,” he said. “It’s funny because only a few years ago I was at the Boxing Writers’ Awards dinner as a guest of my promoter and I remember thinking, wouldn’t it be amazing to be nominated at this awards ceremony and be mentioned with who they consider to be the top tier fighters of the last year.

“To me, I’ve won already. You have to remember I only had seven amateur fights and all just in one year. All of the previous winners had great amateur experience, so just being mentioned in the same category as them makes me a winner.”

“It’s great that Mikael is receiving this recognition and its testament to the work him and the team at Stonebridge Boxing Club have been doing,” said Lawal’s promoter Nisse Sauerland. “He is already making waves in the cruiserweight division and we will be targeting a big fight for him before the end of the year.”