He represented England at the EUBC European Junior Boxing Championships in Anapa, Russia in 2013, winning a silver medal. He is undefeated in his professional career of 11 bouts. He was previously promoted by Mayweather Promotions, but is now promoted by Boxxer. He is notable for being the trainer of KSI from 2017–2019.
While he was still an amateur boxer, Riley had a day job as a personal trainer at a GymBox gym in Stratford, London.[3][4] It was here that he first met and trained several YouTube personalities, including KSI. The two fights between KSI and Logan Paul brought Riley huge publicity and exposure.[5]
Amateur career
Riley started his boxing career at six years old when he was introduced to the sport by his father Derrick Riley. As a young amateur, he trained at West Ham Boxing Club.[6] He went on to collect eight national championships, as well as winning a European Junior Silver Medal in Anapa, Russia. He also became a 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympian for Team GB.[7] Riley amassed an amateur record of 41–8 (19 KO's).[8]
Professional career
Early career
Riley first entered the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas in 2018 in preparation for KSI's second amateur fight with Logan Paul. There, he sparred the American NABF cruiserweight champion at the time, Andrew Tabiti. In doing so, he impressed Jeff Mayweather and Amer Abdallah, with whom he subsequently signed a deal to turn professional.[9]
Riley made his professional debut on 30 November 2018 at the Big Punch Arena in Tijuana, Mexico against Julio Manuel Gonzalez, beating Gonzalez by knockout in the first round.[10] He recorded another first-round knockout in his next fight, against Mitchell Spangler at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on 19 January 2019, on the undercard of the WBAwelterweight championship bout between Manny Pacquiao and Adrien Broner.[11] Riley's third fight was a unanimous decision victory against Austine Nnamdi in Dubai on 3 May 2019, in which he headlined as the main event.[12]
In November 2019, fellow countryman Lawrence Okolie, who would later become WBO world cruiserweight champion, praised Riley, stating that Riley "is in the top 5 [people] I've sparred".[13]
Riley would next face Muhammad Abdullah in Las Vegas on 28 February 2020, achieving another unanimous decision victory to improve to 4–0.[14]
In November 2021, Riley signed a multi-fight deal with the promotional company Boxxer.[16]
It was announced that Riley would make a debut in the United Kingdom as an undercard match of Amir Khan vs Kell Brook on 19 February 2022. On 11 February 2022 on Twitter, Riley had announced his opponent as Namibian boxer Willbeforce Shihepo.[17][18] Riley won the fight by unanimous decision to put his record at 5–0.
During his sixth professional bout on the undercard of Richard Riakporhe vs Fabio Turchi on 11 June, Riley produced a huge knockout victory over Jone Volau, fifty-one seconds into the first round.[19]
On February 16, 2024, it was announced that Riley will defend his English cruiserweight championship against former British cruiserweight champion Mikael Lawal (17–1) on the undercard of Fabio Wardley vs. Frazer Clarke on 31 March at The O2 Arena in London.[23] A few days later, after the fight announcement, Boxxer announced that Riley had signed a long-term promotional deal.[24] During the build-up to the fight, Riley promised his fans to take a dangerous road to try to get a world title shot in the next few years.[25] At the press conference, Riley claimed that he had faced bigger punchers and labelled Lawal as a bully.[26] Riley defended his English cruiserweight title by unanimous decision, with two judges scoring the fight 99–91 and the other judge scoring it 98–92.[27][28][29] Lawal fractured three of Riley's ribs in the first round.[30] During the post-match interview with Riley, current British cruiserweight champion Isaac Chamberlain criticised Riley's performance against Lawal, claiming "that performance was dead," with both arguing when the contract gets signed.[31]Cheavon Clarke tried forcing himself into the conversation before all three were separated by security.[32] A few days after the fight, Chamberlain continued to call Riley out, promising to "break him" if Riley produced another performance like he did against Lawal.[33][34] The fight between Riley and Chamberlain was halted in progress after Chamberlain relinquished his title to fight Jack Massey for the European title,[35][36] which left mandatory challenger Clarke knocking out Ellis Zorro to win the vacant British title.[37]
Riley vs Garber
In December 2024, it was announced that Riley will face Steve Eloundou Ntere (9–2) in a non-title bout on the undercard of Natasha Jonas vs. Ivana Habazin on 14 December 2024 at the Exhibiton Centre in Liverpool.[38] However, Ntere withdrew from the fight and would be replaced by Dan Garber (7–3). This bout marked Riley's debut fight at heavyweight, meaning his English Cruiserweight title was not on the line.[39] Riley defeated Garber via technical knockout in the second round.[40]
Cancelled bout with Isaac Chamberlain
After defeating Garber, Riley once again faced off with Isaac Chamberlain and the two verbally agreed to fight in February 2025.[40] It was later announced that Riley will defend his English cruiserweight title against Chamberlain on 1 February 2025 at the Wembley Arena in London.[41] However on 20 January, it was announced that Chamberlain would be withdrawing from the fight due to injury.[42]
Riley vs Clarke
After the cancellation of Riley's bout against Chamberlin it was confirmed Riley would not be fighting a replacement on 1 February but instead would be fighting at a later date, due to a replacement "not aligning with the bigger goals ahead." [43] On 23 January it was confirmed Riley would be facing British and WBA Intercontinental Cruiserweight champion Cheavon Clarke on the undercard of Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn on April 26 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. [44][45]
Other ventures
Riley maintains a strong social media presence: he has a YouTube channel with over one million subscribers as of April 2021,[46] and releases original music independently on online streaming services Spotify and Apple Music.[47][48]
He is the founder and owner of RIL Athletics, his own clothing brand.[49]
