Viddal Riley beats Seydi Coupe by unanimous decision to retain European cruiserweight title

Viddal Riley retained the EBU European cruiserweight title on Saturday, November 14, beating France's Seydi Coupe by unanimous decision in the MF Pro main event at OVO Arena Wembley in London. After 12 rounds the judges scored it 116-112, 117-111 and 119-109 for the British fighter, according to the FightMag live results. The Ring also reported the unanimous decision win on X.

It was the first defence of the European belt for Riley, who improves to 15-0. Coupe, who also came in unbeaten at 14-0 and had held the EBU "Silver" title, suffers the first loss of his professional career in his first fight in the UK.

How the fight went

Riley was a heavy favourite going in, priced at 1/12 by DAZN Bet, and he had said in the build-up that he wanted to stop Coupe. That did not happen. The Frenchman went the full 12 rounds and landed some heavy right hands along the way. DAZN shared one of them during the broadcast. Even so, the scorecards show Riley clearly in control, with one judge giving him 11 of the 12 rounds on the 119-109 card. The closest card, 116-112, was still eight rounds to four.

Riley won the European title earlier in his run with a win over veteran Mateusz Masternak and has also beaten Cheavon Clarke. Before the fight, DAZN wrote that a successful defence would put him in a good position to challenge for a world title, with the vacant IBF cruiserweight belt in his sights. No next opponent or world-title plan has been announced.

Riley vs Coupe: key facts

• Result: Viddal Riley def. Seydi Coupe by unanimous decision (116-112, 117-111, 119-109)
• Title: EBU European cruiserweight, Riley's first defence
• Records: Riley 15-0, Coupe 14-1
• Venue: OVO Arena Wembley, London, live on DAZN

Undercard results

In the chief support, Zelfa Barrett stopped Gavin Gwynne in the fifth round to win the WBA Intercontinental lightweight title and move to 36-3. Ben Marksby handed Yaser Al Ghena his first loss by unanimous decision, taking the Commonwealth and WBO European super lightweight titles. Dan Toward beat Jak Corrie by split decision for the WBA Continental super welterweight title. Tom Welland stopped Jack Dillingham in the seventh round to win the English featherweight title.

• Zelfa Barrett def. Gavin Gwynne by TKO (Round 5)
• Ben Marksby def. Yaser Al Ghena by unanimous decision
• Dan Toward def. Jak Corrie by split decision
• Tom Welland def. Jack Dillingham by TKO (Round 7)

On the preliminary card, Kieran Molloy stopped Steve Suppan in the second round and Frankie Stringer outpointed Kurt Jackson 80-72.