Viddal Riley

Last updated

Viddal Riley
Viddal Riley at training.jpg
Riley in 2019
Born
Viddal Ethan Danso Riley

(1997-07-07) 7 July 1997 (age 26)
Hackney, London, England
Other namesThe Rilest • Ril • IsItRil
Relatives Wretch 32 (cousin)
Boxing career
Statistics
Weight(s)Cruiserweight
Height6 ft 1 in (185cm) [1]
Reach76+12 in (194 cm) [1]
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights11
Wins11
Wins by KO6
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing Flag of England.svg  England
European Junior Championships
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2013 Anapa Light-heavyweight
Website https://isitril.com/

Viddal Ethan Danso Riley (born 7 July 1997) is an English professional boxer, rapper and internet personality. He is the current English cruiserweight champion.

Contents

He represented England at the EUBC European Junior Boxing Championships in Anapa, Russia in 2013, winning a silver medal. He is undefeated in his professional career of 11 bouts. He was previously promoted by Mayweather Promotions, but is now promoted by Boxxer. He is notable for being the trainer of KSI from 2017–2019.

Early life

Viddal Riley was born on 7 July 1997 in Hackney, London. He attended Northumberland Park Community School in the Northumberland Park area of Tottenham in the London Borough of Haringey, England. [2]

While he was still an amateur boxer, Riley had a day job as a personal trainer at a GymBox gym in Stratford, London. [3] [4] It was here that he first met and trained several YouTube personalities, including KSI. The two fights between KSI and Logan Paul brought Riley huge publicity and exposure. [5]

Amateur career

Riley started his boxing career at six years old when he was introduced to the sport by his father Derrick Riley. As a young amateur, he trained at West Ham Boxing Club. [6] He went on to collect eight national championships, as well as winning a European Junior Silver Medal in Anapa, Russia. He also became a 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympian for Team GB. [7] Riley amassed an amateur record of 41–8 (19 KO's). [8]

Professional career

Early career

Riley first entered the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas in 2018 in preparation for KSI's second amateur fight with Logan Paul. There, he sparred the American NABF cruiserweight champion at the time, Andrew Tabiti. In doing so, he impressed Jeff Mayweather and Amer Abdallah, with whom he subsequently signed a deal to turn professional. [9]

Riley made his professional debut on 30 November 2018 at the Big Punch Arena in Tijuana, Mexico against Julio Manuel Gonzalez, beating Gonzalez by knockout in the first round. [10] He recorded another first-round knockout in his next fight, against Mitchell Spangler at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on 19 January 2019, on the undercard of the WBA welterweight championship bout between Manny Pacquiao and Adrien Broner. [11] Riley's third fight was a unanimous decision victory against Austine Nnamdi in Dubai on 3 May 2019, in which he headlined as the main event. [12]

In November 2019, fellow countryman Lawrence Okolie, who would later become WBO world cruiserweight champion, praised Riley, stating that Riley "is in the top 5 [people] I've sparred". [13]

Riley would next face Muhammad Abdullah in Las Vegas on 28 February 2020, achieving another unanimous decision victory to improve to 4–0. [14]

He had been scheduled to fight on the undercard of the WBA lightweight title fight between Gervonta Davis and Yuriorkis Gamboa in 2019, in addition to fighting Rashad Coulter on the undercard of Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. in 2020, but he was forced to pull out of both fights due to a recurring back injury. [15]

In November 2021, Riley signed a multi-fight deal with the promotional company Boxxer. [16]

It was announced that Riley would make a debut in the United Kingdom as an undercard match of Amir Khan vs Kell Brook on 19 February 2022. On 11 February 2022 on Twitter, Riley had announced his opponent as Namibian boxer Willbeforce Shihepo. [17] [18] Riley won the fight by unanimous decision to put his record at 5–0.

During his sixth professional bout on the undercard of Richard Riakporhe vs Fabio Turchi on 11 June, Riley produced a huge knockout victory over Jone Volau, fifty-one seconds into the first round. [19]

English cruiserweight title

Riley vs Quarless

Riley defeated the previously unbeaten boxer Nathan Quarless (10–0) for the vacant English cruiserweight championship as the co-feature to Caroline Dubois vs. Magali Rodriguez on 30 September 2023 at the York Hall in London. [20] Riley defeated Quarless via unanimous decision, winning all ten rounds. [21] Riley called out newly crowned British cruiserweight champion Isaac Chamberlain after his victory over Mikael Lawal the same night in a post-fight interview. [22]

Riley vs Lawal

"We don't run from bullies. Never have never will".

- Viddal Riley, Fabio Wardley vs. Frazer Clarke – Press Conference.

On February 16, 2024, it was announced that Riley will defend his English cruiserweight championship against former British cruiserweight champion Mikael Lawal (17–1) on the undercard of Fabio Wardley vs. Frazer Clarke on 31 March at The O2 Arena in London. [23] A few days later, after the fight announcement, Boxxer announced that Riley had signed a long-term promotional deal. [24] During the build-up to the fight, Riley promised his fans to take a dangerous road to try to get a world title shot in the next few years. [25] At the press conference, Riley claimed that he had faced bigger punchers and labelled Lawal as a bully. [26] Riley defended his English cruiserweight title by unanimous decision, with two judges scoring the fight 99–91 and the other judge scoring it 98–92. [27] [28] [29] Lawal fractured one of Riley's ribs in the first round. [30] During the post-match interview with Riley, current British cruiserweight champion Isaac Chamberlain criticised Riley's performance against Lawal, claiming "that performance was dead," with both arguing when the contract gets signed. [31] Cheavon Clarke tried forcing himself into the conversation before all three were separated by security. [32] A few days after the fight, Chamberlain continued to call Riley out, promising to "break him" if Riley produced another performance like he did against Lawal. [33] [34] The fight between Riley and Chamberlain was halted in progress after Chamberlain relinquished his title to fight Jack Massey for the European title, [35] [36] which left mandatory challenger Clarke knocking out Ellis Zorro to win the vacant British title. [37]

Other ventures

Riley maintains a strong social media presence: he has a YouTube channel with over one million subscribers as of April 2021, [38] and releases original music independently on online streaming services Spotify and Apple Music. [39] [40]

He is the founder and owner of RIL Athletics, his own clothing brand. [41]

Personal life

Riley is a supporter of his local football club Tottenham Hotspur F.C. [42]

He is cousins with grime artist Wretch 32.[ citation needed ]

Professional boxing record

11 fights11 wins0 losses
By knockout60
By decision50
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
11Win11–0Mikael LawalUD1031 Mar 2024 The O2 Arena, London, EnglandRetained English cruiserweight title
10Win10–0Nathan QuarlessUD1030 Sep 2023York Hall, London, EnglandWon vacant English cruiserweight title
9Win9–0Anees TajTKO4 (8), 2:3116 Jun 2023 York Hall, London, England
8Win8–0Anees TajTKO4 (8), 0:0411 Feb 2023The SSE Arena Wembley, London, England
7Win7–0Ross McGuiganTKO3 (6), 2:2212 Nov 2022Manchester Arena, Manchester, England
6Win6–0Jone VolauTKO1 (6), 0:5111 Jun 2022 The SSE Arena Wembley, London, England
5Win5–0 Willbeforce Shihepo PTS619 Feb 2022 Manchester Arena, Manchester, England
4Win4–0Muhammad AbdullahUD428 Feb 2020 Sam's Town Hotel & Gambling Hall, Sunrise Manor, Nevada, US
3Win3–0Austine NnamdiUD43 May 2019FIVE Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE
2Win2–0Mitchell SpanglerKO1 (4), 0:33 19 Jan 2019 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, US
1Win1–0Julio Manuel GonzalezKO1 (4), 1:1930 Nov 2018Big Punch Arena, Tijuana, Mexico

Discography

Mixtapes

List of mixtapes with selected details
TitleDetails
Livin' Sports, Pt.2
  • Released: 3 October 2019
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital Download, streaming
Livin' Sports Pt.3
  • Released: 18 December 2020
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital Download, streaming

Extended plays

List of extended plays with selected details
TitleDetails
Livin' Sports
  • Released: 10 September 2018
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital Download, streaming
Ds.1 [43]
  • Released: 25 February 2022
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital Download, streaming
Ds.2
  • Released: 1 April 2023
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital Download, streaming
Ds.3 (Different Sports)
  • Released: 25 August 2023
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital Download, streaming

As lead artist

TitleYearAlbum
"Lionel Rich"2019Non-album singles
"Paddling Pools"Livin' Sports, Pt.2
"Ten Pins"
(with Randolph)
Non-album singles
"Marimba Freestyle"
(with Randolph, Ninj & PB)
"R A N G E"2020
"Rilist No.1"Livin' Sports Pt.3
"Chess Piece"
(with KayyKayy)
Non-album singles
"Plugged In"
(as Viddal Riley with Fumez The Engineer)
TitleYearAlbum
"Holy Water"
(Paul Bartolome featuring RIL)
2019Screaming Through The Radio
"Bad Habits"
(Benz featuring RIL & Nizzy Ninj)
2020Non-album singles
"LIT"
(Benz featuring RIL)
"Cruiserweight (.Ends. II)"
(SAMOSAMO featuring RIL)
2022

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists
TitleYearOther artist(s)Album
"Ninj & Viddal Stuntin"2020Nizzy NinjRainy Summer 2

Music videos

List of music videos as lead and featured artist, showing directors
TitleYearDirector(s)
As lead artist
"Stay The Night"
(with T-Bone)
2017Braidefilms
"Paddling Pools"2019Josh Hall
"Marimba Freestyle"
(featuring Randolph, Ninj & Benz)
DA
"Pointing"Tory T6
"Ride For Team"
(with PB & Natalie)
"Freestyle"2020
"Chess Piece"
(with KayyKayy)
"Favours"
(featuring Jme)
"Plugged In"
(as Viddal Riley with Fumez The Engineer)
Unknown
"LS3 Interlude"
As featured artist
"Bad Habits"
(Benz featuring RIL & Nizzy Ninj)
2020Tory T6

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2018KSI: Can't LoseHimself Documentary [44]
Viddal Riley in video gamesVideo games
YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
TBDUndisputedHimself [45]

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References

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