Craig Richards (boxer)


Craig Richards is an English professional boxer. He has challenged for the WBA (Super) light-heavyweight in 2021. Richards held the British light-heavyweight title from 2020 to 2021

Professional career

Richards made his professional debut on 28 May 2015, scoring a first-round technical knockout victory over a scheduled four rounds against James Child at the York Hall in London. He ended 2015 with a points decision win against Scott Douglas in October.
He tallied up another five wins in 2016; Kieron Gray on PTS in January; a TKO over Richard Horton in June; Dalton Miller and Adam Jones by PTS in September; and a TKO over Bronislav Kubin in November.
On 17 March 2017, Richards fought for his first professional title, winning via ten-round unanimous decision against Alan Higgins at the York Hall to capture the Southern Area super-middleweight. He secured a PTS win against Rui Pavanito in July and a TKO win over Norbert Szekeres in October. Two days after his win over Szekeres, Callum Johnson pulled out of his British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight unification fight with Frank Buglioni. Richards was brought in as a last minute opponent at five days notice. The fight took place on 28 October at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, and was aired live on Sky Sports Box Office as part of the undercard for Anthony Joshua vs. Carlos Takam. Richards suffered the first defeat of his professional career, losing by UD over twelve rounds. Two judges scored the bout 117–111 while the third scored it 116–113.
Richards came back with three stoppage wins in 2018; Ivan Stupalo in March; Bosko Misic in June; and Michal Ludwiczak in October. He began 2019 with a third-round TKO win against Alan Ball to capture the vacant WBA Intercontinental light-heavyweight title. The bout took place on 2 February at The O2 Arena in London. He had two more fights that year; a twelve-round UD victory against Andre Sterling in June and an eight-round draw against Chad Sugden in December.
It was announced in September 2020 that Richards would make a second attempt at the British title, this time against reigning champion Shakan Pitters on 14 November at the Fly By Nite Rehearsal Studios in Redditch. However, Pitters withdrew from the bout on medical advice after suffering an injury during training, with a new date being scheduled for 18 December at the same venue. Richards scored a knockdown in the fourth round, dropping the champion to the canvas with a right hook. Pitters made it back to his feet before the referee's count of ten to see out the remainder of the round on his feet. Richards scored a second knockdown in the ninth round, this time with a left hook. Pitters again made it back to his feet, but on unsteady legs, prompting referee Victor Loughlin to call a halt to the contest at 2 minutes and 42 seconds, awarding Richards the British title via ninth-round TKO.
In March 2021, it was announced that Richards would challenge for his first world title, facing reigning champion Dmitry Bivol for the WBA (Super) light-heavyweight title on 1 May at the AO Arena in Manchester. As part of the undercard for Joseph Parker vs. Derek Chisora. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.
In 30 October 2021 at the O2 Arena in London, Richards won the vacant WBA International light-heavyweight title with a sixth round stoppage of Marek Matyja.
At the same venue on 21 May 2022, he faced unbeaten Olympic bronze medalist, Joshua Buatsi, losing via unanimous decision.
Richards then took 21 months away from the competitive boxing ring, before returning on 10 February 2024 with a seventh round stoppage win over Boris Crighton at Indigo at The O2 in London.
In his next outing, he faced Willy Hutchinson for the vacant WBC Silver light-heavyweight title at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 1 June 2024, as part of the Queensbury vs Matchroom "5 vs 5" event. He lost by unanimous decision.
Richards got back to winning ways on 1 March 2025, thanks to an eighth round knockout success over Padraig McCrory at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
He faced Dan Azeez at Legon Sports Stadium in Accra, Ghana, on 20 December 2025. Richards won by stoppage in the final round to claim the vacant IBF International light-heavyweight title.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
25Win20–4–1Dan AzeezKO12, 0:2320 Dec 2025Legon Sports Stadium, Accra, GhanaWon vacant IBF International light-heavyweight title
24Win19–4–1Padraig McCroryKO8, 1:581 Mar 2025The SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland
23LossWilly HutchinsonUD121 June 2024Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaFor vacant WBC Silver light-heavyweight title.
22Win18–3–1Boris CrightonTKO7, 2:5210 Feb 2024Indigo at The O2, Greenwich, England
21Loss17–3–1Joshua BuatsiUD1221 May 2022The O2 Arena, London, England
20Win17–2–1Marek MatyjaTKO6, 2:3430 Oct 2021The O2 Arena, London, EnglandWon vacant WBA International light-heavyweight title.
19Loss16–2–1Dmitry BivolUD121 May 2021AO Arena, Manchester, EnglandFor WBA (Super) light-heavyweight title.
18Win16–1–1Shakan PittersTKO9, 2:4218 Dec 2020Fly By Nite Rehearsal Studios, Redditch, EnglandWon British light-heavyweight title.
17Draw15–1–1Chad SugdenPTS819 Dec 2019York Hall, London, England
16Win15–1Andre SterlingUD1221 Jun 2019York Hall, London, England
15Win14–1Jake BallTKO3, 2:272 Feb 2019The O2 Arena, London, EnglandWon vacant WBA Continental light-heavyweight title.
14Win13–1Michal LudwiczakTKO2, 2:3527 Oct 2018Copper Box Arena, London, England
13Win12–1Bosko Misic3, 1:156 Jun 2018York Hall, London, England
12Win11–1Ivan StupaloTKO3, 1:4624 Mar 2018The O2 Aren, London, England
11Loss10–1Frank Buglioni1228 Oct 2017Principality Stadium, Cardiff, WalesFor British light-heavyweight title.
10Win10–0Norbert SzekeresTKO3, 1:5821 Oct 2017The SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland
9Win9–0Rui PavanitoPTS61 Jul 2017The O2 Arena, London, England
8Win8–0Alan HigginsPTS1017 Mar 2017York Hall, London, EnglandWon Southern Area super-middleweight title.
7Win7–0Bronislav KubinTKO2, 2:5026 Nov 2016Wembley Arena, London, England
6Win6–0Adam JonesPTS629 Sep 2016York Hall, London, England
5Win5–0Dalton MillerPTS410 Sep 2016The O2 Arena, London, England
4Win4–0Richard HortonTKO1, 2:5921 Jun 2016York Hall, London, England
3Win3–0Kieron GrayPTS430 Jan 2016Copper Box Arena, London, England
2Win2–0Scott Douglas410 Oct 2015York Hall, London, England
1Win1–0James Childs1, 0:4928 May 2015York Hall, London, England