How Riley went from KSI's trainer to world-title dream

Viddal Riley had spent years learning how to fight. Then he taught a YouTuber, and that became the story.

On Saturday, the Londoner defends his European cruiserweight title against unbeaten Frenchman Seydi Coupe at Wembley Arena, with a world-title shot within reach.

Yet it was his work with social media star KSI that first brought him mainstream attention, training the YouTuber for his fights against Joe Weller and Logan Paul.

From a corner of boxing where popularity can secure a headline fight before a punch has been thrown, Riley, 29, arrived with credentials few of his new audience knew about.

"I didn't do all that hard work from such a young age to just be known as a trainer of a famous person," he tells BBC Sport.

"I can't push away something that's part of my story. I just wanted to make sure that's not the only thing I'm known as and I've managed to do that."

Riley, unbeaten in 14 professional fights, first entered a boxing gym aged six and was national champion at 11.

He collected eight titles in the amateurs, representing Team GB and captaining England before meeting KSI at 19.

English, British and European titles have followed as a professional. He thought beating Cheavon Clarke might win over the sceptics, but the influencer tag has proved hard to shift.

"I'm pretty much giving up on trying to convince a purist of what I am," he says. "If you can't read facts and figures to convince yourself, then you're in your own world."

When Riley went to Las Vegas as KSI's trainer, he made sure his own boxing kit was in the luggage. The trip came about because Floyd Mayweather Sr wanted to build his social media presence.

"I took it as an opportunity to showcase my abilities even though I was there as his trainer," he says.

Riley - who had already made his professional debut in Tijuana, Mexico in 2018 - sparred with established professionals and impressed enough to earn a deal with Mayweather Promotions the following year.

There had been moments, though, when Riley wondered whether life as a cornerman might suit him better.

"Seeing how they were living and how I could not be the one in danger and still make a good life for myself, it does make you second guess," he says.

But Riley wanted to pursue his own career. His first professional appearance in Britain would not come until his fifth fight.

Working with KSI taught Riley how to handle the media glare. He built an audience of his own and now has about 1.2 million YouTube subscribers.

"It got me accustomed to being in the limelight," he says. "Ready for the attention to be on me on a big stage."

After starting with Mayweather Promotions, Riley developed his career with Boxxer - winning English and British titles.

His points victory over Clarke looks better still after Clarke stopped former world champion Chris Billam-Smith last weekend.

"Some things take time to mature," Riley says. "It allows people to understand the level that I am and my capabilities."

Yet joining MF Pro in December 2025 risked bringing the conversation back to influencer boxing. Before signing with the professional venture affiliated with KSI's Misfits, Riley wanted the distinction made clear.

"Are you going to make this clear that I'm not joining Misfits Boxing?" he recalls asking. "I haven't done all of this hard work to then sign a professional contract that's going to drag me back into what I've worked so hard to differentiate myself from."

Riley says he had offers from "basically all promoters", but felt MF Pro best appreciated both his boxing and his audience. Assurances he could continue pursuing a world title made signing "a no-brainer".

He believes other fighters can learn from his approach, but warns against expecting a shortcut: "You can't skip anything. There's no loophole, there's no life hack or anything like that."