Richard Commey emerges from title win with injured hand, will undergo MRI

Richard Commey managed to win the vacant IBF lightweight title last Saturday by dominating Isa Chaniev in only two rounds, but Commey did some damage to his own hand in the process. ESPN reports that Commey (28-2, 25 KOs) is expected to face Vasyl Lomachenko on April 12, but will need to ensure his hand is good to go by then.

“There seems to be an issue with a ligament on his right hand, his right knuckle,” Lou DiBella, Commey’s promoter, told ESPN on Tuesday. “Before there is any definitive prognosis, they want him to have an MRI and whatever other imaging they need to do. Richard went to see the hand specialist [on Tuesday]. The doctor sent him for imaging, which he will have done on Wednesday, and on Thursday the doctor will review everything and give us a prognosis about whether he will be able to fight on April 12.”

Ligament damage in the hands can be much more painful and take longer to heal than a bone fracture, and even if it turns out that Commey’s injury isn’t too serious, it could still set him back for his training camp is he’s to begin preparations for a fight a little over two months out.

If Commey isn’t ready to fight Lomachenko on April 12, Top Rank’s Carl Moretti says they will move Lomachenko off that date or have him possibly take on Anthony Crolla, who holds the WBA’s mandatory challenger position.