Richard Commey Puts Himself Back in the World Lightweight Picture
Coming off a 14-month layoff, former IBF lightweight champion Richard Commey (30-3, 27 KOs) scored a sixth round TKO over Jackson Marinez (19-2, 7 KOs) at the MGM Grand Bubble in Las Vegas.
At 5’10”, Marinez is tall for a lightweight. He had some buzz coming into the fight as much of the boxing world watched him get robbed in a unanimous decision loss to undefeated prospect Rolando Romero in August 2020. Many fans were excited to see him step-up after a fight he should have won. He likes to box and began this bout by doing so.
RELATED: Rolando Romero Gets A Gift Decision Over Jackson Marinez
The 30 year-old from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic emphasized getting the jab going early. Wary of Commey’s powerful right hand, the slickster made sure to move to his right to stay out of range of his opponent’s best shot.
That was the pattern during the first two rounds while Commey applied pressure. In round three, the former IBF champion started getting closer and closer to his opponent. Throwing more combinations, he began to find a home with power shots to the head and body.
TIDE STARTING TO TURN
The fourth round produced excellent work from both men. Commey leaves himself open to be countered by right hands. Marinez found a home for that punch as he began to stand his ground and fight. This may have ended up being the wrong thing to do as he had the most success catching the former champion coming in and continuing to use the ring.
The 33-year-old from Accra, Ghana is the stronger and more powerful fighter. His strength and physicality started to show in the middle rounds. With fifty seconds to go in round six, a combination put Marinez on the canvas.
The Dominican got up, but he was in serious trouble. Smelling blood, the Ghanaian connected with a hellacious single right hand with thirty seconds to go in the round. The Dominican crumbled to the ground and sprawled out on his back. He was done like grilled steak as referee Kenny Bayless waved the fight over. The victor celebrated by breakdancing in the center of the ring.
This was Commey’s first fight since losing the IBF title to the division’s only unified champion Teofimo Lopez in December 2019. All in all, you can’t help but describe this as an impressive comeback win.
With this kind of performance, the former champ showed he has plenty of fight in him. He’s on a mission to become a two-time world lightweight champion!
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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