Viddal Riley cemented his status as a leading European cruiserweight on Saturday, November 14, 2026, successfully defending his EBU European title against Seydi Coupe. Riley secured a unanimous decision victory over the previously undefeated French challenger at the OVO Arena Wembley in London.
The judges’ scorecards read 116-112, 117-111, and 119-109 in favour of the Londoner, pushing his unblemished professional record to 15-0 with 7 knockouts. Coupe suffered his first professional defeat, moving his record to 14-1.
Riley dominates Seydi coupe, wins by decision
This decisive win marks another significant step in Viddal Riley’s career, reaffirming his position at the top of the European cruiserweight division. Coupe, who entered the bout as the EBU’s number one contender with a perfect record and significant power, presented a stern test. But Riley’s technical prowess and ring generalship proved too much for the challenger over 12 hard-fought rounds.
The event, promoted by MF Pro, showcased a night of competitive boxing on DAZN, with several other titles changing hands on the undercard. It underscored the OVO Arena Wembley’s continued prominence as a venue for major boxing events, drawing considerable attention within the sport.
The main event saw both fighters land significant blows throughout the contest. Seydi Coupe, known for his aggressive style, caught Viddal Riley with a powerful right hand to the chin midway through the third round, momentarily rocking the champion. Riley weathered the storm, demonstrating his resilience and composure under pressure.
As the fight progressed, Riley began to assert control. He found consistent success with his left hook against Coupe’s jab in the sixth round, creating openings for his offensive attacks. Both boxers exchanged clean punches in a competitive seventh round, highlighting the back-and-forth nature of the championship contest.
By the eighth round, Coupe was showing signs of the punishment, with noticeable swelling developing under his right eye. Riley capitalised on this, using his movement effectively and landing crisp right hands to Coupe’s chin in the ninth and tenth rounds. He pressed hard for a stoppage in the final round, aiming to finish the fight inside the distance.
Despite Riley’s late surge, Coupe displayed immense toughness, absorbing the blows and making it to the final bell. By then, the challenger had significant swelling under both eyes. Referee Giuseppe Quartarone oversaw the 12-round contest, which ultimately went to the judges for a clear verdict in favour of the defending champion.
Undercard delivers action-packed title bouts
The MF Pro card at Wembley was packed with title fights and significant matchups, providing a platform for both established names and rising prospects. The undercard results delivered several memorable moments and new champions across various weight classes.
- Viddal Riley (15-0, 7 KOs) def. Seydi Coupe (14-1, 0 KOs) by unanimous decision (116-112, 117-111, 119-109) to retain Riley’s EBU European cruiserweight title.
- Zelfa Barrett (36-3, 19 KOs) def. Gavin Gwynne (19-5-2, 5 KOs) by TKO in the fifth round to win the vacant WBA Intercontinental lightweight title.
- Ben Marksby (15-0, 3 KOs) def. Yaser Al Ghena (16-1, 3 KOs) by unanimous decision (114-113, 116-111, 117-110) over 12 rounds to win the Commonwealth and WBO European super lightweight titles.
- Dan Toward (9-1-1, 6 KOs) def. Jak Corrie (9-1-1, 6 KOs) by split decision (98-92, 98-92, 94-96) over 10 rounds to win the vacant WBA Continental Europe super welterweight title.
- Tom Welland (12-1, 6 KOs) def. Jack Dillingham (7-1-1, 2 KOs) by TKO at 2:50 of the seventh round to win the vacant English featherweight title.
Zelfa Barrett delivered a brutal performance to claim the vacant WBA Intercontinental lightweight title. “Brown Flash” stopped Gavin Gwynne in the fifth round, dropping him with a devastating right uppercut to the chin in the final minute. Gwynne’s corner then threw in the towel, preventing further damage. Bob Williams was the referee for the bout.
Ben Marksby maintained his undefeated record and added two significant belts to his collection, defeating Yaser Al Ghena by unanimous decision. Marksby secured the Commonwealth and WBO European super lightweight titles after a 12-round contest scored 114-113, 116-111, and 117-110. Referee Howard Foster administered an eight-count to Al Ghena in the sixth round after Marksby hurt him with a powerful right hand.
In a highly anticipated rematch, Dan Toward earned a split decision victory over Jak Corrie for the vacant WBA Continental Europe super welterweight title. The judges scored the 10-round bout 98-92 twice for Toward, with the third judge favouring Corrie 96-94. This win settled their May draw and established Toward as the division’s new continental champion.
Rising prospect Tom Welland stopped Jack Dillingham in the seventh round to capture the vacant English featherweight title. Welland bloodied Dillingham’s nose in the sixth round before dropping him with body shots late in the seventh. Referee Steve Gray stepped in to wave off the contest at 2:50 of the round, crowning Welland as the new champion.
Viddal Riley’s calculated ascent through the cruiserweight ranks
Viddal Ethan Danso Riley’s journey to European champion has been meticulously crafted, built on a strong amateur foundation and a steady professional progression. Born in Hackney, London, Riley began boxing at the tender age of six, introduced by his father, Derrick Riley.
He amassed an impressive amateur record of 41-8, securing eight national championships and a silver medal at the 2013 European Junior Championships as a light heavyweight.
His amateur career also saw him represent Team GB as a Youth Olympian at the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games, where he faced and defeated future professional stars like Daniel Dubois and Chris Billam-Smith. This early success laid the groundwork for his professional boxing career.
Riley also gained significant public recognition through his role as trainer for YouTube star KSI, which led to sparring opportunities at the prestigious Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas, impressing figures like Jeff Mayweather and Amer Abdallah.
Turning professional in Tijuana in 2018, Riley has steadily climbed the ranks. He captured the vacant English cruiserweight title in September 2023 against Nathan Quarless, followed by the British cruiserweight title in April 2025 by defeating Cheavon Clarke.
His crowning moment before Saturday’s defence came in April 2026, when he claimed the EBU European cruiserweight championship with a unanimous decision over Mateusz Masternak at The O2 Arena, a fight that also served as an IBF World Cruiserweight eliminator. He was ranked No. 8 by The Ring, No. 2 by the IBF, and No.
5 by the WBC at cruiserweight prior to this latest bout.
Seydi Coupe’s undefeated record shattered in London
For Seydi Coupe, the bout against Viddal Riley represented a significant step up and an opportunity to announce himself on the European stage. The 29-year-old Frenchman entered Wembley with a perfect 14-0 professional record, including 9 knockouts, showcasing his formidable power and unblemished run.
Coupe’s boxing pedigree also stems from a solid amateur background, reportedly fighting for the French National Boxing Team and winning the National Heavyweight Title in 2021. He turned professional in 2022 and quickly amassed experience, boxing 56 rounds before challenging Riley for the European crown. He had also sparred with Dmitry Bivol in preparation for this career-defining fight.
His professional rise included securing the vacant French Cruiserweight Belt in July 2024 with a unanimous decision over John Franck Mendy. Nine months later, he captured the vacant EBU Silver Cruiserweight Crown by stopping Tomas Faure in the third round.
In 2026, Coupe maintained his momentum with a technical decision win over Ervin Dzinic in May and a unanimous decision against Jiri Svacina in March, building towards his shot at Riley.
MF Pro builds its professional boxing brand
The Viddal Riley vs. Seydi Coupe card was a significant offering from MF Pro, the professional boxing offshoot of the Misfits brand co-founded by KSI. This event served as a clear statement of MF Pro’s intent to develop and showcase professional champions, moving beyond its roots in influencer boxing.
The promotion, which signed Riley in December 2025, aims to cultivate a new generation of boxing stars.
The Wembley card featured five title fights, demonstrating MF Pro’s commitment to high-level competition. These included Zelfa Barrett winning the vacant WBA Intercontinental lightweight title and Ben Marksby claiming the Commonwealth and WBO European super lightweight titles. Such events are crucial for fighters looking to build their careers and gain exposure, providing compelling matchups for fans globally on DAZN.
What’s next for the European cruiserweight division
Viddal Riley’s successful title defence now places him firmly in contention for higher honours. With top rankings in the IBF and WBC, a world title shot appears to be within reach. His ability to adapt and overcome a tough challenger like Seydi Coupe will undoubtedly boost his confidence and marketability as he eyes the sport’s ultimate prizes.
For Seydi Coupe, while the loss is a setback, his performance against a highly-rated opponent like Riley demonstrates his potential. He pushed the champion and showed considerable grit, suggesting he will remain a threat in the cruiserweight division. A regrouping period and a few more wins could see him back in title contention.
The cruiserweight landscape in Europe remains vibrant, with Riley now positioned as its undisputed king.
