Whyte vs Browne: Craig 'Spider' Richards insists he is a new and improved fighter
Thursday 15 March 2018 17:36, UK
Craig Richards insists that he has seen drastic improvements since he moved up to light-heavyweight and 'Spider' is determined to showcase his newfound punch power at The O2 next Saturday.
The south Londoner will return to the ring as part of the undercard to Dillian Whyte's heavyweight dust-up with Lucas Browne in London, live on Sky Sports, having lost out to Frank Buglioni last time out.
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Despite defeat, Richards, who took the fight at less than a week's notice, rightfully takes a lot of positives having defiantly taken the British light-heavyweight champion twelve rounds.
Now, the 27-year-old, with a full camp behind him, wants to make his own mark in the 175lb ranks and build towards another shot at the Lonsdale Belt.
This is my natural weight and I've seen drastic improvements. Now, especially in sparring, I've been a different fighter.
"I'm definitely taking a lot of positives from the Buglioni fight," Richards exclusively told Sky Sports, "It gave me so much more confidence and now I can build from it.
"To fight over twelve rounds at British level after just ten fights and win some rounds, performing well, I can be happy with that.
"Buglioni is a very good, busy, fighter and I stuck with him despite being a late call-up. It was a massive learning curve and now I know what I need to do to improve and bring out the best in myself.
"Ahead of that fight, I hadn't had any time at all to work into the weight, but now I can see a massive difference, I've developed into a real and dangerous 175lb fighter."
Richards will fight over eight rounds next Saturday and has vowed to make a statement in front of his home crowd.
"Everything is better now, my punch power, energy, just the all-round training, I really do feel great," the Londoner continued.
"This is my natural weight and the drastic improvements are obvious. I was losing stuff before and I didn't even realise, but now, especially in sparring, I'm a different fighter.
"I'm ready to put in a performance for my fans and show the difference a full camp at light-heavy has made. It's my first fight of the year and we know my opponent will come and have a go so I'm looking forward to it.
"The plan is to take the right steps to get back to a British title shot and I'm confident that when I do, I'll have what it takes to claim the belt."
Watch Dillian Whyte against Lucas Browne on Saturday, March 24 at The O2, from 7pm on Sky Sports Action
