Richard Commey Ready to Jump from Lightweight to the 140 Pound Division!
For several years, Richard “RC” Commey (30-4, 27 KOs) has been a top-level fighter in the lightweight division However, the former IBF lightweight champion has decided to leave the division in hopes of more glory at 140 pounds. During an interview with Ghanian news outlet Boxing Ghana, the 35-year-old gave the reasons for this decision.
ONWARD AND UPWARD
“I have spoken with my manager, and we have decided that now is the right time to move to 140-pounds. I have spent over ten years at 135 and achieved my ultimate goal of winning a world title, and headlined in some iconic venues, including Madison Square Garden and The MGM Grand. So, there is nothing left for me at lightweight.
The obvious benefit is that I won’t have to kill myself trying to make 135. As we all know, the older you get, the more difficult it gets to make weight. Not to say I struggled, but it just got a little harder naturally. The biggest benefit is that I will be able to chase another dream of being a two-weight world champion.”
He went on to say that he hopes to be back in the ring in July but is waiting to hear something on that from his handlers, Lou DiBella and Top Rank.
It’s understandable why the pride of Accra, Ghana feels his run at lightweight is over. He lost the IBF title by second-round TKO to Teofimo Lopez in December 2019. After a comeback stoppage win over Jackson Marinez in June of 2021, he was given a boxing lesson by former pound for pound king Vasyl Lomachenko in December 2021. Still highly ranked in the division (#9 WBC, #10 IBF, #12 WBO), he’s not in line for a world title shot anytime soon. Plus, Commey has been at lightweight his entire career. He’s always had a big frame for the division. Maybe he sees the writing is on the wall at 135.
THE POSSIBILITIES AT A HIGH WEIGHT
But at 35, is the move to 140 too little, too late? Not necessarily. With undisputed junior welterweight champion Josh Taylor expected to move up to welterweight sooner than later, there’s an opening for the hard hitter from Ghana to make headway there.
It’s conjecture and speculation. Given his age, it’s going to take some work. But Commey is still a name in the sport. Plus, he has some major power players behind him in DiBella and Top Rank. You could see them pull some strings and put him in a position to fight for a soon-to-be-vacant junior welterweight title. It will be interesting how far he can go at this late stage of his career.
Reading Time: 3 minutes
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
