Attention spans are becoming increasingly short.

Reels, stories, and shorts dominate, and even entire television series are uploaded in lumps to cater for those who instead of letting a story play out slowly, prefer to watch every episode as quickly as possible, find out what happens, and then move on to the next trending show. 

“I kind of look at boxing as a genre-type of thing,” Lerrone Richards told Boxing Scene. “You know when you go on to Netflix and you’ve got comedies, horror and thrillers? Then you’ve got Lerrone Richards.”

Which genre does Richards think boxing fans would place him in?

“That’d be interesting to see what people thought,” he laughed. “I don’t think they’d put me under ‘Action’, but boxing is the sweet science and I do that to the highest level.”

On April 12 Richards boxes Steed Woodall at London’s York Hall. During fight week the super middleweight will be asked time and time again about whether he feels the need to make a statement. About whether we’ll see a “new” Lerrone Richards.

Those observers asking will be encrypting the questions they really want answered. “Will he take more risks? Will he be more exciting? Will he make himself easier to beat?”

The simple answer? “No.”

The 31 year old’s safety first, intelligent style may attract criticism, but it has so far proven impossible to figure out. Richards is unbeaten in 18 fights and has won British, Commonwealth and European titles. He is clearly doing something right.

“To keep in the limelight or for people to keep talking about you, you want to make statements,” he said. “That’s key. I believe that I’ve done that with my boxing skills,” he said. “In boxing these days, people have forgotten the art. It’s about hitting and not getting hit. I’m aware you take criticism and you listen to people talk about what they think you should be doing but at the end of the day I’m getting the results, winning clearly and passing tests with flying colours and I’m going to continue to do so for the rest of my career. 

“In life, if you try and please everyone you’ll please no-one. If I go out and swing for the rafters and get clipped and stopped, everyone would be saying, ‘Oh, Lerrone Richards should have boxed’. It’s about being smart and people not forgetting the guys and the levels that I’ve been fighting. My time will come and I’m hoping it’ll be in a big fight.”

Richards won’t be reinventing himself but the fight with Woodall provides him with the ideal opportunity to reintroduce himself. He has done the rounds of broadcasters and has won championship fights on Sky Sports, DAZN and BT Sport. In 2024 he is promoted by Wasserman, who have a broadcast deal with Channel 5.

The free-to-air television channel may not have the same rich history of other broadcasters but it has consistently televised boxing, and quality fighters like Sam Eggington, Harlem Eubank and Josh Kelly have established themselves there. Their fights regularly reach over a million viewers, and Richards is displaying his talents to a new, and different, audience. 

There is a place for fighters with Richards’ style. In America, those with similar qualities have sometimes been admired for their ability, and storylines were built around finding the opponent they couldn’t beat. Richards believes that there is still time to find his audience. 

“I don’t think a lot of British fans are educated enough in terms of skill,” he said. “Promoters obviously want to promote the show which is the right thing to do, and people want crash, bang, wallop. It’s sort of become a trend these days. I’m sure when people start seeing what I’m doing and see that I’m doing it at the highest level, they will start to appreciate it a lot more.

“I’m excited about the relationship I have with Channel 5 and Wasserman and I’ll be able to showcase my skills to a different audience. I’m sure they’re gonna appreciate what I bring to the table. We have a plan and as long as I keep winning and keep delivering the goods, I’ll fight for the world title and I’m sure I’ll deliver again once I’ve got that opportunity.”

It is more than 20 years since Adrian Stone, a relatively little-known fighter, almost came from nowhere to wreak havoc on the country’s top light middleweights. Stone grew up in Bristol but spent his entire career boxing in the United States before returning to Britain and tearing through a series of quality operators.

The Birmingham-born Woodall, 18-2-1 (11 KOs), spent the first three years of his career competing across the Atlantic, recording 15 wins and only losing to a future opponent of Gennady Golovkin – Steve Rolls. He has won three fights since returning to the UK but lost a decision to Padraig McCrory in August 2023. 

Woodall will see the fight with Richards as the ideal opportunity to formally announce his return, but although he will be a new name to many British fans, Richards is well aware of him.

“I’m a boxing fan,” he said. “I love boxing. I watch all the different weight classes – especially super middleweight and light heavyweight – and I know the different fighters,” he said. “I know that Steed Woodall is a good fighter who has spent some time in America. I know he’s come to the UK and he’s a solid competitor. I’m sure he’ll bring the heat on April 12th. I’m looking forward to it.

“I’ve been blessed with a style where I can adapt. If he tries to box, that’s lovely. If he tries to come forward, that’s lovely too. I can box on all terrain.”