# Richard Commey

Richard Oblitey Commey (born 10 March 1987) is a Ghanaian professional boxer who held the IBF lightweight title in 2019. He previously held multiple regional lightweight titles including; the Ghanaian title in 2011; the ABU title in 2013; and the Commonwealth title from 2014 to 2015.

## Professional career

On 9 September 2016, Commey fought for a world title for the first time in his career, against undefeated Robert Easter Jr. Both fighters had a strong start in the first four rounds. Commey managed to drop Easter Jr. in the eighth round, but it wouldn't be enough for the judges, two of them scoring the fight 115–112 and 114–113 in favor of Easter Jr., while the third judge scored the fight 114–113 for Commey, handing Easter Jr. the split-decision win.
After losing to Robert Easter Jr. for the vacant IBF lightweight title in 2016, Commey defeated Isa Chaniev in 2019 to capture the IBF title in his second attempt.
In his next fight, Commey made his first title defence, against former champion Ray Beltrán. The title however, was on the line for Beltran, since he failed to make the required weight limit for the fight. Commey dropped Beltrán four times during the fight, the last knockdown being the decisive one, since it prompted referee Eddie Hernandez Sr to stop the fight.
Next up, Commey squared off against undefeated 22-year old prospect Teófimo López on 14 December 2019, who was ranked #1 lightweight by the IBF. During the middle of the second round, both fighters tried to connect on a right hand, but López was the one who got to his target first, catching Commey with a vicious right hand which sent him down on the floor. Commey managed to beat the count, however, López immediately went in attack mode, forcing the referee to stop the fight.
On 13 February 2021, Commey rebounded from his defeat against López with a sixth-round knockout victory against Jackson Marinez.
On 11 December 2021, Commey faced recently deposed former champion Vasiliy Lomachenko from Ukraine in an almost one-sided fight. Lomachenko dominated the fight from round one to round twelve. In round 7 Commey was knocked down and visibly shaken, causing Lomachenko to tell Commey's corner to stop the fight because of the obvious damages done to the Ghanaian fighter. After some ringside verification at the start of round 8, Commey continued, and Lomachenko won nearly all the remaining rounds. Lomachenko defeated Commey in a unanimous decision.

## Professional boxing record

| 36 fights | 30 wins | 5 losses |
| By knockout | 27 | 2 |
| By decision | 3 | 3 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 36 | Loss | 30–5–1 | José Ramirez | KO | 11 (12), 2:34 | 26 Mar 2023 | Save Mart Center, Fresno, California, US | |
| 35 | Draw | 30–4–1 | José Pedraza | SD | 10 | 27 Aug 2022 | Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tulsa, Oklahoma, US | |
| 34 | Loss | 30–4 | Vasiliy Lomachenko | UD | 12 | 11 Dec 2021 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US | For vacant WBO Inter-Continental lightweight title |
| 33 | Win | 30–3 | Jackson Marinez | KO | 6 (10), 2:35 | 13 Feb 2021 | MGM Grand Conference Center, Paradise, Nevada, US | |
| 32 | Loss | 29–3 | Teófimo López | TKO | 2 (12), 1:13 | 14 Dec 2019 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US | Lost IBF lightweight title |
| 31 | Win | 29–2 | Ray Beltrán | KO | 8 (12), 0:54 | 28 Jun 2019 | Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, US | Retained IBF lightweight title |
| 30 | Win | 28–2 | Isa Chaniev | TKO | 2 (12), 0:39 | 2 Feb 2019 | Ford Center at The Star, Frisco, Texas, US | Won vacant IBF lightweight title |
| 29 | Win | 27–2 | Yardley Armenta Cruz | TKO | 2 (8), 0:29 | 4 Aug 2018 | Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, New York, US | |
| 28 | Win | 26–2 | Alejandro Luna | TKO | 6 (12), 1:54 | 10 Mar 2018 | Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, US | |
| 27 | Win | 25–2 | Hedi Slimani | UD | 12 | 11 Mar 2017 | Bukom Boxing Arena, Accra, Ghana | Won vacant WBC International Silver lightweight title |
| 26 | Loss | 24–2 | Denis Shafikov | SD | 12 | 2 Dec 2016 | Tough Fight Gym, Moscow, Russia | |
| 25 | Loss | 24–1 | Robert Easter Jr. | SD | 12 | 9 Sep 2016 | Santander Arena, Reading, Pennsylvania, US | For vacant IBF lightweight title |
| 24 | Win | 24–0 | Anzor Gamgebeli | TKO | 2 (8), 2:02 | 19 Mar 2016 | MusikTeatret, Albertslund, Denmark | |
| 23 | Win | 23–0 | Kakha Avetisiani | TKO | 5 (10), 1:17 | 17 Oct 2015 | Dm-Arena, Karlsruhe, Germany | |
| 22 | Win | 22–0 | Bahodir Mamadjonov | TKO | 8 (10), 1:48 | 22 May 2015 | The D Hotel & Casino, Paradise, Nevada, US | Won vacant IBF Inter-Continental lightweight title |
| 21 | Win | 21–0 | Thompson Mokwana | TKO | 7 (12), 0:29 | 14 Mar 2015 | Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa | Retained Commonwealth lightweight title |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | Mikheil Avakian | TKO | 4 (8), 1:49 | 7 Feb 2015 | Arena Nord, Frederikshavn, Denmark | |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Samir Ziani | UD | 10 | 13 Dec 2014 | MusikTeatret, Albertslund, Denmark | |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Gary Buckland | UD | 12 | 12 Jul 2014 | York Hall, London, England | Won vacant Commonwealth lightweight title |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Prince Ofotsu | TKO | 8 (12), 0:10 | 26 Dec 2013 | Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana | Won vacant African lightweight title |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Paul Truscott | TKO | 8 (12), 1:28 | 13 Jul 2013 | York Hall, London, England | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Bilal Mohammad | KO | 7 (12), 1:37 | 8 Mar 2013 | City Engineers Yard, Accra, Ghana | Won IBF Continental Africa lightweight title |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Fuseini Ahmed | TKO | 7 (8), 2:12 | 8 Dec 2012 | Will Power Boxing Complex, Accra, Ghana | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Kris Hughes | RTD | 4 (8), 3:00 | 15 Sep 2012 | York Hall, London, England | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Simas Volosinas | TKO | 3 (6), 1:55 | 7 Jul 2012 | York Hall, London, England | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Korley Collison | TKO | 6 (12), 2:13 | 16 Dec 2011 | Cantonments, Accra, Ghana | Won Ghanaian lightweight title |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Yusif Salifu | TKO | 3 (8), 1:27 | 2 Dec 2011 | Cantonments, Accra, Ghana | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Zakaria Salifu | TKO | 4 (8), 1:23 | 4 Nov 2011 | Prison's Canteen, Accra, Ghana | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Tetteh Lamptey | TKO | 3 (8), 2:42 | 21 Oct 2011 | Prison's Canteen, Accra, Ghana | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Emmanuel Odoi | KO | 2 (8) | 10 Sep 2011 | Accra, Ghana | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Dan Quartey | KO | 2 (8), 2:43 | 30 Jul 2011 | Lebanon House, Accra, Ghana | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Zakaria Salifu | TKO | 3 (8), 1:24 | 24 Jun 2011 | Prison's Canteen, Accra, Ghana | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Yaw Sakiya | TKO | 3 (8), 2:52 | 21 May 2011 | Lebanon House, Accra, Ghana | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Kuma Doe | KO | 3 (8) | 29 Apr 2011 | Prison's Canteen, Accra, Ghana | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Obile Issaka | TKO | 1 (6), 2:45 | 2 Apr 2011 | Prison's Canteen, Accra, Ghana | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Baba Nsor | TKO | 2 (6), 0:59 | 26 Feb 2011 | Prison's Canteen, Accra, Ghana | |