
Two contenders ready. One belt vacant. Zero dates.
Welcome to boxing.
Last night at OVO Arena Wembley, Viddal Riley kept his European cruiserweight title with a clear unanimous decision over unbeaten Frenchman Seydi Coupe.
116-112. 117-111. 119-109.
Riley moves to 15-0. Coupe drops to 14-1.
Job done.
But Riley should have been getting ready for a WORLD title fight.
He's No. 2 with the IBF. New Zealand's David Nyika is No. 1. The pair were ordered to fight for the vacant IBF cruiserweight title.
So why isn't it happening ?
Jai Opetaia.
The Aussie was stripped of the IBF belt after agreeing to fight under Dana White's Zuffa Boxing banner. He didn't take it lying down — he's taken the IBF to court, alleging the body conspired against him and had no proper grounds to strip him.
Until that's sorted, the vacant title fight is on ice.
Team Nyika wanted December — maybe even in Auckland. Now it's looking like the new year, with a stay-busy fight first.
"It's frustrating for us guys," trainer Noel Thornberry told RNZ.
Frustrating ? That's putting it politely !
Meanwhile Opetaia — unbeaten, and the man who already beat Nyika last year — is off to heavyweight to face Deontay Wilder in Cardiff on 11 December.
So let's get this straight.
The ex-champ is in court fighting for the cruiserweight belt… while getting ready for a heavyweight fight.
The No. 1 and No. 2 are ready to go… and can't.
Somebody please explain that one to us !!
When the green light does come, it heads to a purse bid — and Team Nyika want it Down Under.
🇳🇿 DAVID NYIKA vs VIDDAL RILEY (15-0) 🇬🇧
🥊 Vacant IBF Cruiserweight World Title
📅 TBC — "the new year at this stage"
Stay tuned !
Sources:
Boxing247 (14 Nov 2026) — https://www.boxing247.com/boxing-news/viddal-riley-outboxes-seydi-coupe-to-retain-european-title/311339
RNZ (31 Oct 2026) — https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/2254340/kiwi-boxer-david-nyika-s-world-title-showdown-put-on-hold
talkSPORT (7 Oct 2026) — https://talksport.com/boxing/4631102/viddal-rileys-next-fight-seydi-coupe-jai-opetaia/
BoxingScene (4 Nov 2026) — https://www.boxingscene.com/articles/deontay-wilder-jai-opetaia-confirmed-for-tyson-fury-anthony-joshua-undercard

















































