Viddal Riley says Seydi Coupe 'skips certain levels' and will be found out at Wembley

Riley defends his European cruiserweight title against the unbeaten challenger on Saturday, and Coupe's verdict on him was "not the best, but one of the best".

By Combat Sports UK Staff · Published Thu 12 Nov, 18:15 UK · AI-assisted reporting

Viddal Riley on Seydi Coupe: skips certain levels — Original graphic: Combat Sports UK

Viddal Riley says Seydi Coupe has skipped levels on his way to Saturday's European cruiserweight title fight, and that the unbeaten challenger will be found out at Wembley.

Asked at Thursday's press conference about boxers skipping levels, Riley said: "It's the traditional way. It's the right way. It's the way that you don't get found out as you go up in the game. And that's what Seydi is going to be a victim of Saturday night. He skips certain things, skips certain opponents, skips certain levels. I haven't done that, and that will show in the fight."

Riley defends the EBU European title against Coupe at the OVO Arena Wembley on Saturday 14 November, live on DAZN. It is a mandatory defence, and Riley said that earlier in the year it was "a kick in the stomach" that this would not be a world title fight, but that defending against his mandatory challenger was "part of the job".

Coupe, asked what he made of Riley, said: "He's a good fighter. For me, not the best, but one of the best, definitely." He said he had sparred Dmitry Bivol in camp because he needed the experience of a big fight. Riley's answer to that was: "Sparring with Bivol is not experience that you can take under the lights."

Promoter Kalle Sauerland went further on Riley's future, saying: "This man will be undisputed one day, and this man will beat Oleksandr Usyk one day." Riley, who has already said he would love an Usyk fight at cruiserweight, said it was the wrong time to ask: "Definitely not thinking about Usyk right now."

The UK start time and how to watch are on our Riley v Coupe fight page.

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Oleksandr Usyk