LERRONE RICHARDS is ready to gatecrash Britain’s bustling light-heavyweight scene if there are no opportunities for him at 168lbs.

Richards has endured a frustrating 18 months since he beat previously undefeated Carlos Gongora in what should have been a real breakout moment for him.

But issues outside of the ring slowed his momentum before he was forced to withdraw from a scheduled clash with Zak Chelli in November after he fell ill and passed out in his bathroom following the weigh in.

He has since parted ways with trainer Dave Coldwell and relocated to Sheffield where he has linked up with Grant Smith at the Steel City Gym, where he trains alongside the likes of his coach’s son Dalton and IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards.

Richards drew a line under his 18-month ring hiatus in May when he stopped journeyman Harry Matthews in four and is now on the hunt for a promotional deal and a route to the world title.

“It was good to get back in the ring and feel like a professional boxer again,” Richards tells krikya360.com.

“Sheffield has been a nice change, learning new things and adding new things to my game. It’s nice to be surrounded by winners - world champion Sunny Edwards, Dalton Smith, Junaid Bostan and a few others in the gym as well. I’m enjoying it.

“Me and Dave Coldwell still get along well, we still talk, it’s not personal but sometimes in life you need to make a few changes. In boxing you have one career but coaches have many so you have to make the right decisions for yourself.”

So what was it that took him to Sheffield?

“I had some words with a few other well established coaches but when I met Grant, what he was saying to me was what I was looking for,” he says. 

“Grant said ‘Lerrone, I can’t change you but I can add to your game to make you the best fighter you can be’. He said he can find me frustrating to watch because I beat guys in second gear so we will be going through the gears now.”

Richards is a former British, Commonwealth and European champion and he claimed the lightly regarded IBO title when he beat Gongora via split decision in the December of 2021. He has since relinquished that belt.

Now he is hoping to secure a shot at a genuine world title but knows that a clash with undisputed champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez is wildly unlikely.

Instead he believes a clash against Canelo’s last opponent, John Ryder, could be a big sell back home in the UK.

He said: “John Ryder was mandatory for my European title but I kind of knew he wouldn’t fight me for that because he’s world level. I’m really happy for him and what he’s achieved but I just think me and him would be a great fight. John Ryder on paper is No.1 in Britain, I’m No.2. Let’s get it on to see who really is the best.

“I think he’s now at a stage in his career when he’s looking for big money. He gave a good of account of himself when he survived against Canelo. He showed a lot of heart, balls and went the distance which was a win in itself. It could headline here in Britain but if he gets beat by me then where does he go?”

Ryder has already suggested that he might only have two fights left and is hoping to secure big-money showdowns with the likes of Gennady Golovkin or Caleb Plant - and Richards is not on his list.

And that could mean ‘Sniper The Boss’ moves up in weight in a bid to secure a significant domestic fight.

He added: “Look, if the super-middleweights don’t want to fight me then light heavyweight is an option, I’m big enough for that. Adonis Stevenson did it years ago, he was ranked at No.1 with the WBC and nobody wanted to fight him then he moved up to light heavyweight to win his world title.

“Domestically that would mean either Joshua Buatsi or Dan Azeez, the winner of that fight. Then there is also Anthony Yarde and Callum Smith, all big fights for me that I would take with no hesitation.”