Craig Richards (boxer)


Craig Richards is an English professional boxer who challenged for the British light-heavyweight title in 2017.

Professional career

Richards made his professional debut on 28 May 2015, scoring a first-round technical knockout victory over a scheduled four rounds against James Child at the York Hall in London. He ended 2015 with a points decision win against Scott Douglas in October.
He tallied up another five wins in 2016; Kieron Gray on PTS in January; a TKO over Richard Horton in June; Dalton Miller and Adam Jones by PTS in September; and a TKO over Bronislav Kubin in November.
On 17 March 2017, Pitters fought for his first professional title, winning via ten-round unanimous decision against Alan Higgins at the York Hall to capture the Southern Area super-middleweight. He secured a PTS win against Rui Pavanito in July and a TKO win over Norbert Szekeres in October. Two days after his win over Szekeres, Callum Johnson pulled out of his British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight unification fight with Frank Buglioni. Pitters was brought in as a last minute opponent at five days notice. The fight took place on 28 October at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, and was aired live on Sky Sports Box Office as part of the undercard for Anthony Joshua vs. Carlos Takam. Pitters suffered the first defeat of his professional career, losing by UD over twelve rounds. Two judges scored the bout 117–111 while the third scored it 116–113.
Pitters came back with three stoppage wins in 2018; Ivan Stupalo in March; Bosko Misic in June; and Michal Ludwiczak in October. He began 2019 with a third-round TKO win against Alan Ball to capture the vacant WBA Intercontinental light-heavyweight title. The bout took place on 2 February at The O2 Arena in London. He had two more fights that year; a twelve-round UD victory against Andre Sterling in June and an eight-round draw against Chad Sugden in December.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
18 Shakan Pitters28 Mar 2020Coventry Skydome, Coventry, England.png" />For vacant British light-heavyweight title
17Draw15–1–1 Chad SugdenPTS819 Dec 2019
16Win15–1 Andre SterlingUD1221 Jun 2019
15Win14–1 Jake BallTKO3, 2:272 Feb 2019O2 Arena, London, England.png" />Won vacant WBA Continental light-heavyweight title
14Win13–1 Michal LudwiczakTKO2, 2:3527 Oct 2018Copper Box Arena, London, England.png" />
13Win12–1 Bosko Misic3, 1:156 Jun 2018
12Win11–1 Ivan StupaloTKO3, 1:4624 Mar 2018The O2 Aren, London, England.png" />
11Loss10–1 Frank Buglioni1228 Oct 2017Cardiff, Wales.png" />For British light-heavyweight title
10Win10–0 Norbert SzekeresTKO3, 1:5821 Oct 2017The SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland.png" />
9Win9–0 Rui PavanitoPTS61 Jul 2017
8Win8–0 Alan HigginsPTS1017 Mar 2017Won Southern Area super-middleweight title
7Win7–0 Bronislav KubinTKO2, 2:5026 Nov 2016Wembley Arena, London, England.png" />
6Win6–0 Adam JonesPTS629 Sep 2016
5Win5–0 Dalton MillerPTS410 Sep 2016
4Win4–0 Richard HortonTKO1, 2:5921 Jun 2016
3Win3–0 Kieron GrayPTS430 Jan 2016Copper Box Arena, London, England.png" />
2Win2–0 Scott Douglas410 Oct 2015
1Win1–0 James Childs1, 0:4928 May 2015