Crystal Palace boxer Craig Richards: Willy Hutchinson has never fought anyone as good as me

Craig Richards has warned Willy Hutchinson he is facing a serious step up in class tomorrow night.

Crystal Palace’s Richards, a former world title challenger at light-heavyweight, takes on the Scot on a show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

Rival promoters Matchroom Boxing (Eddie Hearn) and Queensberry Promotion (Frank Warren) have put five of their boxers up against each other.

Richards (18-3-1, 11KOs) has lost on points to WBA world champion Dmitri Bivol, who is also due to box on the packed event, and fellow South Londoner Joshua Buatsi.

“You’ve never fought anyone like me,” Richards told Hutchinson in a TNT Sports face-off video. “You’ve never even fought anyone I’ve beaten. I don’t know if he (Hutchinson) is even as good as them – and when I was at domestic level they weren’t hard at all.

“For all my domestic fights I was in my comfort zone.

“What he is going to bring is the underdog mentality. Usually I’m stepping up and proving myself. He is going to be doing that this time and so he’s going to want it bad.”

Hutchinson (17-1, 14KOs) said: “I’d hit him in the chest and knock him out, never mind the head. I don’t know any other light-heavys that can bring it, that power.”

PICTURE: MARK ROBINSON/MATCHROOM BOXING