Richard Commey demolished Isa Chaniev last February with the vacant IBF lightweight belt and a crack at Vasiliy Lomachenko on the line, but wound up damaging his knuckle, leaving Lomachenko to face Anthony Crolla while the Ghanaian healed up. Luckily, the injury wound up not being severe, and Commey has been cleared to train after two months of recovery.
Boom! Just had the all clear from the doctor here in New York, back in the gym tomorrow and looking to defend my @IBFUSBAboxing title in June #AndStill @Mickey_Moo @BoxingGhana @KBouhairie @loudibella @eaner0919 @Everlast_ @SNACsystem @DiBellaEnt @Streetwisemgt
— Richard Commey (@RichardCommey) April 2, 2019
According to Commey’s (28-2, 25 KO) promoter, Lou DiBella, Commey intends to make a summer title defense before unifying with Lomachenko or Crolla “later in the year.” Understandable.
DiBella also says that Commey doesn’t want a “free-pass fight.” Though the IBF hasn’t filled the #1 and #2 slots held by him and Chaniev, #3 Masayoshi Nakatani, #5 Emiliano Marsili, #6 George Kambosos Jr., and several others are currently unoccupied.
While we’re speculating, there’s also the question of whether Lomachenko, assuming he smashes Crolla as expected, will wait on Commey or make a defense of his own in the meantime. As a double champ, he has no shortage of viable options.