Boxxer’s Ben Shalom hints that Chevon Clark will replace Isaac Chamberlain as Vidal Riley’s next opponent.
Riley and Chamberlain were scheduled to play on the Adam Azim-Sergei Lipinets undercard at Wembley Stadium in London on February 1, but Chamberlain was injured in training and was left with just a few minutes to go until game night. The absence of competition for two weeks led Boxxer to look for alternatives.
Riley, 27, stopped Dan Garber in December, the same night Clark, 34, saw a split decision in favor of Leonardo Mosqueia at the end of his European lightweight title reign. He lost for the first time in his 11-match career at the Salle des Etoiles in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
A match between them would be just as attractive as the one scheduled between Riley and Chamberlain, and asked for suggestions that Clark (who fought Mosquia in the Match Room promotion) would be named Riley’s opponent, Shah Lom told BoxingScene: “It’s obviously devastating for us; it’s devastating for Vidal. Now we’re looking at something very important for Vidal.
“He doesn’t want to wait, he wants the biggest fight. I’ve seen some rumours. But there will be a big fight soon.
“[Clarke] Still holds the British title, which is exactly what Vidal wanted for the title. He is a traditional man; he went to the South, to England, and now he wants England, all the way to world level. He is a great talent. He took everything that happened in his stride, which was devastating for us – it was a good fight. He wanted the next biggest test. “
The “rumors” Shalom was referring to were rumors that Clark-Riley was in undercard talks with Chris Eubank Jnr-Conor Benn on April 26, according to Matchroom’s Frank Frank Smith told BoxingScene: “It’s a fight that people are very interested in. If anything happens on that card, we’ll see.
“It’s a fight I’d love to see. Chev comes back from that fight; fighting for a European title. Him against Vidal will definitely be a tough fight.”
Shalom also mentors Chris Billam-Smith, Richard Riakpoh, Jack Massey and Oxlade-Chamberlain, becoming increasingly influential in the British lightweight division. Chamberlain is rebuilding under new coach Adam Booth after being defeated by Messi, and when asked if Chamberlain would return to fight Riley or Riley’s next opponent, the promoter replied: ” I think so. I believe Vidal is the best of the bunch, and I think people haven’t seen the best of him yet.
“He’s a great boxer and I think he can show himself at this level. He’s well above the level in the UK and Europe and he’ll prove it. Fortunately there are a lot of players in the lightweight division Some great fights – even Scott Forrest was in there and he was in Barnsley some great fights at lightweight.
“We have to see where Isaac is, which is a shame – I’ve seen a lot of speculation about what it is. “We haven’t received the evidence yet. “But the truth is, I’ve been promoting Isaac Chamberlain for a long time – he’s never been out of a fight, he’s never been out of a fight, even late in the game. It’s just unfortunate. But yeah, Vidal’s career will develop rapidly.”
