Craig Richards rues respectful start against Dmitry Bivol in WBA world title defeat

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Craig ‘Spider’ Richards felt a slow start proved his undoing as he came up short in his WBA light-heavyweight title challenge on Saturday.

The Crystal Palace fighter, 31, was a huge underdog ahead of meeting Russia’s Dmitry Bivol in Manchester.

But two judges scored it close – 115-114 and 115-113 – as Richards lost a unanimous points verdict.

He was competitive in every round.

“I probably didn’t start quickly enough,” British champion Richards, whose record is 16-2-1, told iFL TV.

“A couple of rounds were close. I’m a bit disappointed, I probably showed him a bit too much respect early on.

“By the time I realised I belonged being in there I started pressing and wearing him down in the later rounds.

“Everyone said he was going to blow me out in two or three rounds – but it was a tight fight.

“I showed I belong at that level.

“I’m not going to be a sore loser. I’ll go back to the drawing board, work harder and make sure I’m the winner next time for the world title.

“I’ve had so many domestic duff ups and I was bored of them. I wanted to really challenge myself.”
Richards earned praise from Bivol. He said: “The fight was really tough for me, because he is a smart boxer. He was thinking all the fight but after one and a half years of rest [inactivity], I think it is okay – it is a normal performance for me.”

Richards lost for the first time since being outpointed by Frank Buglioni for the domestic strap in October 2017.

PICTURES: MARK ROBINSON + DAVE THOMPSON/MATCHROOM BOXING