In the dynamic world of professional boxing, few names are making waves quite like Viddal Riley. The English cruiser weight champion is a prodigious talent with a growing profile, an individual who is not just a formidable athlete in the ring but also a charismatic figure beyond it.
Riley’s story is one of impressive versatility and relentless ambition. From his early days training under the watchful eye of his father, to his stellar achievements in the amateur ranks, and now as a rising star in the professional arena, Riley has continually pushed boundaries. His prowess as a boxer is complemented by his entrepreneurial spirit and a keen ability to connect with fans through social media, making him a multifaceted personality in the modern sports landscape.
In this exclusive interview, Sean McKoy delves into Viddal Riley’s journey, exploring his early life, his boxing career, his music and the bright future that awaits him.
Sunglasses: Moncler
Jacket: Schott
Jumper: Topman
Earring: Viddal’s own
Many professional athletes play a lot of different sports when they are young. At school which sports did you like?
In school I liked football and basketball, badminton, hockey. I pretty much enjoyed any form of PE. I don’t think there was any sport during my PE lessons that I was against. Everyone looked forward to when the teacher said we would be playing football but also, basketball and badminton because I used to get competitive with badminton.
You’ve got several interests, music being one of them. What kind of artists did you listen to as a teenager?
I listened to a lot of US hip-hop artists growing up because my dad used to listen to them so that’s what I gravitated towards. One of the main artists in secondary [school] was Drake and obviously the old school guys like Biggie, Tupac, Mobb Deep and Nas, 50 Cent of course. I feel like he had everyone in a chokehold for a while. [I liked] different genres of music, not just hip hop but R&B as well, T-Pain was hot at that time and Usher, Bobby Valentino. Then obviously the local Tottenham artists JME, Skepta, Frisco, Chip, Wretch, Avelino- there are a ton of artists, and I was surrounded by music.
You mention Tottenham- you’re proudly from Northumberland Park and you wear the Jamaican colours on your shorts. How important is your background to you and do you feel a need to represent it in the media?
That’s just my colour scheme. It’s subconscious. With my branding it’s always black and gold and khaki green is my favourite colour. It was never a Jamaican tribute; it just turns out that it was the same colours, but it is important to me to represent where I’m from. You’re not anyone if you don’t know where you’re from, if you haven’t got an identity and you don’t have anything to draw on, whether it’s the city or native countries. You must know where you’re from and have a certain way that you behave and a code that you stick to. It’s a massive thing to me. As they say- if you don’t know where you’re from, you don’t know where you’re going.
Jacket: Schott
Jumper and shorts: Topman
Sunglasses: Moncler
Trainers: BOSS
Socks: Serge de Nimes
Earring: Viddal’s own
You’ve mentioned how your background influences your identity. You started boxing at the age of six, would you say it was inevitable that you would become a boxer?
For me to get to where I am today it makes sense. When I was on the journey there were times when I didn’t know I was going to make it to the point I’m at today. There have been times when I’ve thought ‘this sounds great and I’m going to end up turning professional.’ But when you start so young it seems so far away. Some people say ‘from the moment I walked in the gym, I knew I was going to be a world champion’ but for me I did think that sometimes and then other times I thought not. But now that I have ended up in this position it feels right. It feels like I’ve accepted my destiny and what I’m here to do, to use boxing to become world champion and fuel everything else I have an interest in and that I want to see grow.
It sounds like you had different feelings at each stage of your journey. Talk me through how it felt going in to your first fight and how it compares to how you step in to the ring now.
When I had my first fight, I remember thinking that I was confident that he hasn’t prepared for me because it was a last-minute replacement. Then when I moved back to the UK and I started the run of my career here with Sky Sports and Boxxer, that’s when I was trying to balance the social media with the commitment needed to level up in boxing. Then going into my last fight, it feels like routine. We know we’ve ticked the boxes, we’ve done the work, I’ve just got to go and perform. I don’t even remember feeling nervous, that’s my mentality now. I don’t weigh up all the external factors as much as I did before.
Jacket: FKA Clothing
Earrings and gloves: Viddal’s own
Shorts: Topman
You mentioned social media which is a growing influence in sport nowadays- what impact do you feel it has had on your career?
It made me known sooner than I thought I would be. I always thought I would be a successful boxer and that comes with fame and recognition, but it was very premature for me, [especially] the attention from training KSI. I didn’t realise that’s the affect it would have because I didn’t really keep up to date with KSI and the Sidemen and how powerful they are. It was only when the followers started going up, I realised working with him put me out there and exposed people to who I am. Then it was about getting the eyes who discovered me to invest in me. Having a following is cool but how is that beneficial? My goal is not to be famous. I don’t care about being famous if I can’t create something from it. I don’t just want to be known.
What has been your most challenging fight to date?
I think my last fight was my most challenging because I had three broken ribs, so I had to navigate the space and find an effective way to win whilst being in pain. I’ve been hit with hard shots before and I’ve shaken them off but in the last fight the pain was getting worse, so it required a lot of concentration. Even though I made it look easy I would say it was the toughest in terms of what I had to go through to deliver that performance.
Jacket and rings: Cernucci
Earring: Viddal’s own
I know that your father has been instrumental in providing guidance. How has that shaped your career?
He has been there from the beginning. It’s priceless and it’s hard to even put it into words. He is a key instrument in the culmination of everything. He has taught me the game as a kid all the way to now. More importantly, he is there for me as a father. I can communicate with him. If I couldn’t communicate with him as my dad, then he couldn’t be my coach. We have a good relationship as father and son and then it [extends] to boxing. We can’t not see eye to eye and then have a successful boxing partnership.
You’ve recently signed a long-term deal with Sky Sports and Boxxer. I’m sure you had other offers, what was it about them that made you sign?
For me it was starting off in the US and coming back to the UK. I wanted to establish myself on the platform that was the biggest here which is Sky Sports. Boxxer are the promoters broadcasting on Sky. They’re quite new and so is my approach so I thought it would be good to work with a new age promoter; someone who would understand what I bring to the table with my social [media] side. When I had that thought process going, I decided to go to Sky and Boxxer and start that journey towards that world title.
Shirt and trousers: FKA Clothing
Earring: Viddal’s own
Apart from becoming world champion do you have any other specific goals within boxing?
Becoming world champion is the first step but then the level of world champion you are is the next thing, it’s the natural progression. I want to be a clear world champion, whereby people say that it’s evident that he is the best. If that means that I get the opportunity to be undisputed to gain that, then great. But not every champion who has been recognised as the best has become an undisputed champion. There can be other champions, but people know you’re THE champion. I need to be that guy.
How would you describe your fashion style?
That’s funny because I was looking at photographs of me the other day as a child and I pretty much dress the same now as I did then. I would say my fashion sense is probably my mum’s and how she dressed me. If I think I look good and presentable for the occasion, then I’m happy. I take trainers seriously because I worked in retail, so I learnt about trainers, and I know which ones are the best. On a day-to-day basis, I keep it casual. However, there will be something I’m wearing which will be rare whether it’s the trainers or a jacket or T-shirt, you’re not going to have seen it everywhere. I try to keep something that’s just a bit different.
You’ve got your own clothing brand, have you got plans to expand it?
It’s now Livin’ Sports by RIL. That’s the one I’m moulding and branding. You normally see it on the back of my shorts so it’s about getting people used to seeing it and liking the pieces before you can get them. We will do campaigns and push it more but right now it’s about the brand being visible so when it drops people know about it. Once everything is sorted behind the scenes, I will probably bring out bucket hats first because that’s what I wear and then we will go from there.
Jacket: FKA Clothing
Shorts: Topman
Earring and gloves: Viddal’s own
Speaking of dropping things in the future, you’ve got a new EP coming out on 28th June, can you tell us more about it?
It’s called Different Sports 4 (DS4). It’s going to be four new songs. I’ve been doing that since I came back to the UK, I’ve thought of a way to keep my music consistent and keep improving, I just bring out four tracks at a time. I think I have found a particular sound now, so the EP is a jazzy, UK rap/drill sound with matter of fact lyrics. I want people to listen to the songs and know it’s me. I’m going to speak relatable things so no matter what background you are from, something’s going to hit and hopefully sometimes I’ll make you laugh. I want you to feel more emotion than just ‘it sounds good.’
Have you got a plan in place for what you want to achieve with your music?
Anything I decide to do I want to see it reach a successful level. For me I think just getting to that consistent level of monthly listeners [and then] my ultimate goal is to build it enough to do a tour one day. It doesn’t have to be arenas or anything crazy, just a thousand people in each city who are locked in. A thousand people who are going to buy merch, know all the words, and even know the entourage. I’m not working towards having a number one song, for me that’s all a bonus but I just want music to be an area in my life where its built organically and everyone’s dedicated to the sound.
There’s been a trend in boxing over the last few years of ring walks including a performance from a musician and you’ve had JME perform at one of yours previously. Which artist dead or alive would you want to perform in one of your ring walks?
US wise right now I have to say that top of the list is Gunna. But I wouldn’t even let him do a ring walk for me yet, I’d say wait until a world title fight, it must be a big occasion. I can’t ask Gunna to come and rap at York Hall. UK wise, I’ve got a plan to do a ring walk with all Tottenham artists. Chip, Wretch, JME, Skepta. And then get Adele to do the national anthem. I don’t know if it’s ever going to work but who knows, you’ve got to have a plan, you’ve got to have an ‘I’ve made this happen’ moment.
You’re a big proponent of broadening your horizons and giving yourself new opportunities. What are some goals you’ve got outside of the ring?
I have goals with online content. I want to have a successful stable fanbase across all platforms. And then hopefully with the great team that I have we can look at starting to help others. Long term hopefully a production company that can help up and coming athletes who want to build their socials since my team and I have been doing it for years now. In general, there are a few things that are cooking but it just requires a lot of patience, hard work, and consistency but once they thrive then I think they’ll be unstoppable.
Viddal Riley’s EP Different Sports 4 (DS4) is available now on all music streaming platforms.
Instagram: @isitril
YouTube:@viddaltherilist
Twitter:@IsitRIL
Team credits:
Photographer: Jacquetta Clark @jacquettaclark
Photography Assistant: Alice Orio @MF2X35MM
Lighting Technician: Alex Jose @alexjose.photo
Fashion Stylist and Editor: Charmaine McKoy @charmainemckoystyle
Fashion Assistant: Charmain Billing @charmain.billing
Grooming: Nadia Webber @nadiawebberartist
Grooming: Rowenna Ayling @rowennamakeup
Interview: Sean McKoy @sean.amck
Cover design: Sofia de Vita @sofia.devita
Videographer: Nana Opoku Agyeman @throughthelensofnana
