By Chris Williams: After losing two straight fights, #3 IBF lightweight contender Richard Commey and his promoters at Sauerland Events are going to go their separate ways. The once promising 29-year-old Commey’s career has tanked recently with him losing back to back fights to Robert Easter Jr. and Denis Shafikov in 2016.
The loss to the 5’11” Easter Jr. wasn’t that big of a surprise to a lot of boxing fans, as he’s a very good fighter with a lot of punching power. Commey gave Easter Jr all he could handle in losing by a 12 round split decision last September by the scores 115-112, 114-113 for Easter Jr, and 114-113 for Commey.
The surprise was when Commey lost his next fight against the 31-year-old Shafikov on December 2nd in Moscow, Russia. Commey looked confused, and fought poorly much of the time. It was not a great performance for Commey. In hindsight, Commey’s promoters probably shouldn’t have matched him against such a tough opponent in his first fight after his grueling match against Easter Jr. just three months earlier. That was a real war between Easter Jr. and Commey. It might have been in Commey’s best interest to rest up after that fight, and be brought back slowly to get his confidence up.
The press release sent earlier today announching the news of Commey parting ways with Sauerland said this:
“Sauerland Promotions exercised their right to terminate Commey’s contract after he lost the two fights.”
Commey is still a very good fighter. He came very close to beating Easter Jr. I think it was a mistake to put him in with Shafikov in his last fight. Commey was at disadvantage with him coming off of a loss that just took place, and with the fight being staged in Moscow, Russia. It was not a good situation for Commey.
You can bet that Commey will get signed by another top promotional company soon. He’s got great boxing skills, and top rate punching power. With the right promoter and match-making, Commey can be positioned to win a world title at lightweight or even possibly light welterweight. He needs to have his game fine-tuned, and he needs the right match-making.
“I would like to thank Sauerland Promotions for the work they have done in progressing my career, fighting in the USA for a world title was a dream come true, unfortunately I did not come away with the victory but I am now looking forward to the next stage of my career and I know my team is working hard to get me another shot at the world title,” said Commey.
I’d like to see Commey back in with Easter Jr. in a rematch at some point. I think that would be an excellent fight. Commey would match well against WBA champion Jorge Linares and WBO champion Terry Flanagan. I think Commey would give both of those fighters all kinds of problems if he could get some tune-ups and confidence booster type fights under his belt first.
The last thing that Commey needs is to be rushed into another tough fight right now. He needs to be rebuilt the right way before being put back into another title fight.
“It would be great to see Richard back in the ring in the States, he won over so many fans and a number of major media outlets nominated him for Round of the Year for the ninth stanza against Easter in their epic world title clash,” said Commey’s manager Michael Amoo-Bediako. “My aim is to guide Richard to another world title shot so we’ll be patient and make sure we choose the right path for him.”
Arum working on picking location for Pacquiao vs. Jeff Horn fight
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is working on nailing down the location for the April 22 fight between WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao and Jeff Horn. This is part of Arum’s strategy to turn the 38-year-old Pacquiao into a worldwide star. It’ll only work, however, if Pacquiao keeps winning and doesn’t retire before Arum accomplishes his goal.
Turning Pacquiao into a worldwide star might require the 85-year-old Arum to upgrade the level of the opposition for Pacquiao. Horn is probably not a big enough name to go much for Pacquiao’s sagging profile, and neither are Pacquiao’s last two wins over Tim Bradley and Jessie Vargas.
“Once we have a location then I’ll fly over to the Philippines to meet with Manny and finalize everything on our side,” Arum said to ESPN.com. “But he is going to fight Jeff Horn.”
Pacquiao is probably going to fight whoever Arum wants him to from now. His next two fights after the Horn match will likely involve Terence Crawford and Vasyl Lomachenko. Those are fighters in Arum’s stable, as is Horn.
Sometimes Arum has some great ideas for Pacquiao, but his idea of having him fight guys like Vargas, Horn and Bradley at this point in his career weren’t the best ideas. You can second guess Arum on that
“Horn and his management have agreed on the purse and now we’re working on a site,” Arum said. “We’ll know the location of the fight in the next few days.”
Why the mystery? Arum has been talking about the Pacquiao-Horn fight taking place in Australia for ages. Why all of a sudden is the location something that needs to be decided? He should just stick the fight in Las Vegas, and see how excited the boxing fans are in seeing Pacquiao fight the little known Horn. Also in the running for the Pacquiao vs. Horn fight is Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Pacquiao has been mentioned for years in potentially fighting in one of those places, but he never does. Could he finally be fighting in one of those countries at this late stage in his career? Will boxing fans even bother going to those places to see Pacquiao fight?
Horn hardly impressed in his last two fights against Ali Funeka and Randall Bailey. He won both fights but tasted the canvas against both guys. Bailey is 43 and Funeka 38. Neither fighter started their careers out at welterweight.
“I thought he was a really rugged guy. He’s a good fighter,” Arum said. “Does he beat Manny? Probably not, but he’s going to give him a good fight. He has a very pleasing personality.”