Who is Madonna’s rumoured new boyfriend, Richard Riakporhe? The undefeated pro boxer is 30 years her junior, a model for Dior and Burberry, and set to face off against Chris Billam-Smith

Jun 5 , 2024

Madonna has been pictured getting cosy with professional boxer and model Richard Riakporhe. Photos: @madonna, @r_riakporhe/Instagram

An undefeated professional boxer and runway model for Dior and Burberry, Riakporhe will battle Chris Billam-Smith for the title of WBO world cruiserweight champion in London this month

Riakporhe suffered a near-fatal stabbing in his native South London at the age of 15, and went on to establish the Richard Riakporhe Foundation with the aim of empowering young people in the community

Madonna has come out of a year-long relationship swinging. Having officially ended her relationship with Josh Popper – the 30 year-old boxer who once coached her son David Banda – last month, the pop icon has already been seen on social media getting cosy with Richard Riakporhe, a British-Nigerian professional boxer.

The pair were snapped together last October at a star-studded party in London whose attendees included Kate Moss and fashion designer Guram Gvasalia. In an Instagram post since deleted from her account, Madonna cheekily captioned the photo, which shows her sitting on Riakporhe’s lap, “I had to sit somewhere.”

The photo of Madonna and Richard Riakporhe that set tongues wagging, which the pop icon captioned, “I had to sit somewhere” – before she deleted the post. Photo: @madonna/Instagram

Here’s everything we know about Madonna’s rumoured new BF.

How did Madonna and Richard Riakporhe meet?

Richard Riakporhe walking for Burberry in London, in March 2022 (left) and September of the same year. Photos: @r_riakporhe/Instagram

It has been speculated that Madonna met Riakporhe while he was modelling for Burberry last year, per British media.

Riakporhe turned 34 in January. As with several of Madonna’s previous boyfriends – Ahlamalik Williams, Brahim Zaibat and Jesus Luz, to name a few – he is several decades her junior. (Madonna is 65.)

Richard Riakporhe is an undefeated boxer

Richard Riakporhe pictured at London’s Ovo Arena Wembley, in March 2022. Photo: @r_riakporhe/Instagram

Riakporhe started boxing 15 years ago, from the relatively late age of 19. He has been a professional boxer for more than seven years. He held the British cruiserweight title from 2019 to 2020, and is also known by his boxer’s alias, the Midnight Train.

Riakporhe is undefeated, having won all 17 of his fights to date, 13 by knockout. He is scheduled to fight former opponent Chris Billam-Smith for the title of WBO world cruiserweight champion on June 15 in London. He previously won against Billam-Smith in July 2019 by split decision.