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It has been a while since these two budding British boxers threw verbal jabs at each other. Tommy Fury, the brother of ‘The Gypsy King,” lauded his own pay-per-view collection when compared to that of Viddal Riley. In response, Riley labeled Tommy as a crossover boxer while implying the pay-per-view buys are because of Jake Paul. But why is Riley making the headlines again?

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Both fighters have an identical record of nine fights and zero losses; they are even close to each other in age. The stark difference, however, is in the kind of opponents they have chosen in the past year. On one hand, Tommy put an end to Jake Paul’s winning streak and wants to do the same to KSI. While the other just came out victorious against Anees Taj twice. But does that justify Tommy’s decision to ignore a fight against an equally good fighter? Riley shed some light on the matter in a recent interview.

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A warning from Viddal Riley to Jake Paul

While appearing in an interview with NoSmokeSport, Riley explained there is nothing anyone can do if Tommy is not interested in a fight. Riley also claimed he would have done the same if he were in Tommy’s position. He then justified his statement by saying, “I mean it’s a lot of headache for a lot less reward.”

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Riley backed his statement by explaining it wouldn’t have been the right decision for Tommy. If he loses the fight, his undefeated title goes away. But if he wins, the reward is nothing compared to what he got against Jake. Riley added with a subtle hint of caution, “You can fight worse people and get paid more.” So there is no point in taking too much risk. With that said, who is Riley facing next?

Who is Riley’s next challenge?

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The fight against Tommy doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Meanwhile, Riley is going to face Nathan Quarless on 30 September. The bout will take place in York Hall, Bethnal Green, for the BBBofC English Cruiserweight title. There is a two-year age difference between the two fighters, Quarless being the older of the two. 

Also Read: Tommy Fury and Viddal Riley’s War of Words Fuels Rivalry

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Quarless has a handful of more fights compared to Viddal with a 12-0 record. However, Quarless has never won a fight via a knockout. On the other hand, Viddal has won six of his nine fights with knockouts. It’s important to note that it’s not just the English title on the line – whoever loses this bout will also lose his undefeated record.

Undoubtedly, Viddal vs. Tommy would have been a great fight if the payout wasn’t a concern. However, that doesn’t eliminate the chances of them coming face to face in the future. If both fighters keep winning their fights, they may meet sometime in the future. What do you think about the situation? Do you think Tommy made the right decision?

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Watch This Story: Tommy Fury’s Gruesome Training Routine For KSI Ahead Of October Bout

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Sudeep Sinha

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Sudeep Sinha is a Senior Boxing Writer at EssentiallySports with over two years of experience covering the science at the ES RingSide Desk. Known for sharp fight-night coverage and detailed analysis, Sudeep has become one of the desk’s leading boxing minds. His work has been featured on major platforms such as Sports Illustrated, Daily Mail, and Yahoo Sports, where he covers everything from amateur boxing developments to high-profile controversies like Ryan Garcia career arc. Sudeep balances his professional writing career with a personal passion for reading, cycling, and lively debates about boxing match-ups and trends on social media. He takes pride in delivering engaging stories that resonate with both hardcore boxing enthusiasts and casual fans alike, providing clear insights into fighter strategies, training, and the evolving dynamics of the sport.

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Arijit Saha

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