Riakporhe-Okolie at Selhurst Park? 'It can happen!'

BOXXER CEO Ben Shalom has teased the possibility of Richard Riakporhe facing Lawrence Okolie in an all-British cruiserweight unification showdown, suggesting it is a fight the current WBO champion would welcome.

Riakporhe (14-0, 10 KOs) takes on Italy's Fabio Turchi at Wembley Arena this Saturday knowing victory will book him a long-awaited world title opportunity at the end of the year.

Beyond that, Okolie looms as a target at the top of the division after retaining his title in February with a unanimous decision victory over Michał Cieślak. It marked the 29-year-old's second defence since stopping Krzysztof Głowacki to clinch the vacant belt in March 2021.

"I think it's a fight Lawrence would like, I think he wants the big domestic fights, he knows that's what sells in the UK and it's amazing to have two guys at the top of the division both from Britain, both from London, that is the most exciting thing," Shalom told Sky Sports.

"Both fighters know that is their fight, in the same way Joshua Buatsi probably looks at Anthony Yarde thinking 'one day that's my fight'. I think both of these guys are looking at each other as well and want to make sure it's box office by the time it comes around.

"They want to make sure perhaps that Richard has his world title and we could be looking at a British unification in the cruiserweight division which would be incredible.

"That's the journey, that's the focus. But to see where Richard has come in 10 months having been inactive 18 months prior is incredible."

Riakporhe, a long-term Crystal Palace fan, holds ambitions of staging a world title clash in Selhurst Park.

Shalom is confident of making that happen.

"I think Crystal Palace fans and the club in general have just massively