Madonna grows close to British boxer after split with Josh Popper

POP queen Madonna has grown close to a young Brit boxer after her break-up from another fighter.

Madge, 65, is said to get on “very well” with Richard Riakporhe, 34.

It comes days after we told how Madonna had thrown in the towel on her relationship with boxer boyfriend Josh Popper.

The Justify My Love singer is believed to have met Richard, nicknamed The Midnight Train, last year as he modelled for Burberry.

A source said: “Richard met Madonna through the fashion world — they have mutual friends. They get on really well and have a lot of fun in each other’s company.

“But at the moment they are just good friends.”

In October, Madonna shared a picture online of her straddling Richard with the caption: “I had to sit somewhere.”

Cruiserweight Richard has teased that Madge may come to watch his world title fight with Chris Billam-Smith at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park stadium next month.

He told talkSPORT: “Madonna says she’s going to come down if she’s in London, she’s going to keep me updated. She said she wants to come to the fight.”

Richard, whose parents are Nigerian, is 6ft 5in and has won all 17 of his fights — 13 of them by knockout.

He was raised in Walworth, South London, and nearly died aged 15 after being stabbed in the chest when a robber tried to take his phone.

On Saturday we revealed Madonna and Popper, 30, split after a year.

They struggling to spend time together as Madonna has spent the past seven months touring.