Defeat Leaves Commey out of the Big League

Richard Commey is a very likeable character, admired, loved and respected by fans and opponents. Constantly smiling, never saying a bad word about an opponent and gracious in defeat, how can anybody not like such a character? His humility is infectious. It is these human qualities that earned him a shot at one boxing’s best, future hall of famer Vasyl Lomachenko.

The fight had massive implications, especially after George Cambosos’ victory against Teofimo Lopez which saw him annex the WBA, WBO, IBF and the Ring Magazine straps.

Lomachenko’s path and purpose have been clear from the moment he lost to Teofimo Lopez in October 2020 - to become undisputed champion. Although the immediate ambition was to avenge the Lopez defeat and regain his titles and the IBF title, the bigger ambition was to go after Devin Haney to complete the haul in the lightweight division.

Masayoshi Nakatani was the start of the journey to become undisputed champion. The Japanese was dispatched with ease. It was classic Lomachenko but it was “only Nakatani”. The defeat to Lopez required a big performance against a credible name, someone above Nakatani’s level.

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Richard Commey’s war against Robert Easter Jnr in 2016 is the reference for those who are willing to pay to watch him. He lost via a controversial split decision but he won the hearts and minds of boxing fans in the one place that matters, the United States. He would go on to win the IBF title against Isa Chaniev in 2019.

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His first and only title defense was emphatic was emphatic. Raymundo Beltran was on the end of a mean knock out which reinforced the belief that the Bukom native was one of the hardest punchers in the division. Even when he lost against Teofimo Lopez via a devastating second round KO the analysis were kind--Commey lost a battle of speed.

Lopez himself admitted that if Commey’s right hand had connected before his, it would have been him on the end of a knock out.

When Lomachenko vs Commey was announced, the Ukrainian was undoubtedly the favorite and by some distance but nobody wrote Commey off. There’s a punchers chance and there’s Richard Commey’s right hand. The latter had earned a reputation for blasting out opponents, a fact many believe could be repeated if the opportunity presented itself during the 12 rounds.

The opportunity came, on a number of occasions, at the Madison Square Garden on Saturday night but it wasn’t taken. It counted for very little in the end as Lomachenko took him to school from the opening bell to the final bell. Urging Commey’s corner to stop the fight in the later rounds perhaps sums up the gulf in quality.

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In short, Commey was no match. It was a defeat as catastrophic as its implications.

The lightweight division is currently boxing’s most competitive division. There are presently five genuine competitors; Lomachenko, WBC belt holder Devin Haney, unified champion George Cambosos, Ryan Garcia and Mayweather Promotions’ Gervonta Davis.

Saturday night was a chance for Commey to put himself within this bracket of elite lightweights who are set to light up boxing in 2022. He fell short. It’s not the end of the road by any stretch.

He now joins another bracket just below this crop made up of Christopher Diaz who lost to Haney, the heavy handed Isaac Cruz who also came up short against Gervonta Davis, Jorge Linares and Javier Fortuna.

The race for the undisputed crown

George Kambosos' defeat of Teofimo came as a surprise, a welcome surprise for the man, but he would be among this group who will be going after the status of undisputed champion next year but for his decision to move up in weight.

Lomachenko, Haney and Kambosos have all stated their intention to hold all four belts in the division and while that ambition appears to be beyond the reach of Ryan Garcia, Gervonta Davis is very much in that picture despite not spelling out any such ambitions.

Haney looks like the favorite to land that fight against Kambosos.

A showdown between Haney and Kambosos will throw up an undisputed champion. Lomachenko will take a huge step towards that dream if he's able to secure a shot against the Aussie, something Top Rank I suspect will make sure happens.

If Loma gets to Australia before Haney and manages to win the three belts, a showdown with Haney for the four belts will become the next logical step. What works against Loma is the absence of a strap but when Top Rank is involved anything is possible.

In all of this, Gervonta Davis appears to be the man not making moves for now but it is unthinkable that a major hand will not be played before the end of next year. It could come in the shape of a mega showdown between the winners of this lightweight round robin.

The questions around who faces who are many, but the certainty is that there will be an undisputed lightweight champion in 2022. This was the opportunity that awaited Richard Commey had he succeeded on Saturday night.

Defeat puts him out of this lightweight 'Champions League' or better still race for the right to be called undisputed champion.

There are still many good fights around as the Ghanaian looks to the future but can you imagine what a Ghanaian fighting to become undisputed champion would have meant? Sadly, that prospect stops in your imagination.