Craig Richards (born 30 April 1990) 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 (TKO) victory over a scheduled four rounds against James Child at the York Hall in London. He ended 2015 with a points decision (PTS) 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 (UD) 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 Jake 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.
On 26 September 2026, he fought Radivoje Kalajdzic over 10 rounds at the Copper Box Arena in London as part of |Zuffa Boxing 11. Richards was knocked to the canvas in the final round and lost via unanimous decision.
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes26Loss20–5–1Radivoje KalajdzicUD1026 Sep 202625Win20–4–1Dan AzeezKO12 (12), 20 Dec 202524Win19–4–1Padraig McCroryKO8 (10), 1:581 Mar 202523LossWilly HutchinsonUD121 Jun 202422Win18–3–1Boris CrightonTKO7 (10), 10 Feb 202421Loss17–3–1Joshua BuatsiUD1221 May 202220Win17–2–1Marek MatyjaTKO6 (10), 30 Oct 202119Loss16–2–1Dmitry BivolUD121 May 202118Win16–1–1Shakan PittersTKO9 (12), 18 Dec 202017Draw15–1–1Chad SugdenPTS819 Dec 201916Win15–1Andre SterlingUD1221 Jun 201915Win14–1Jake BallTKO3 (10), 2 Feb 201914Win13–1Michal LudwiczakTKO2 (6), 27 Oct 201813Win12–1Bosko Misic 3 (6), 6 Jun 201812Win11–1Ivan Stupalo TKO3 (6), 24 Mar 201811Loss10–1Frank Buglioni1228 Oct 201710Win10–0Norbert Szekeres TKO3 (6), 21 Oct 20179Win9–0Rui PavanitoPTS61 Jul 20178Win8–0Alan HigginsPTS1017 Mar 20177Win7–0Bronislav KubinTKO2 (6), 26 Nov 20166Win6–0Adam JonesPTS629 Sep 20165Win5–0Dalton MillerPTS410 Sep 20164Win4–0Richard HortonTKO1 (4), 21 Jun 20163Win3–0Kieron GrayPTS430 Jan 20162Win2–0Scott Douglas410 Oct 20151Win1–0James Childs 1 (4), 28 May 2015
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