Richard Commey taking time and believing fate in hopes of regaining boxing title

Former IBF lightweight Champion Richard Commey returns to the ring for the first time in 14 months against Jackson Marinez. 

In June of 2019, Richard Commey looked like a goliath defeating Ray Beltran by knockout to defend his IBF lightweight title for the first time.

Six months later, the roles were reversed, and he suffered the first knockdown and knockout loss of his career against Teofimo Lopez, who’s now the undisputed division champion. The sudden change from victor to loser is the perfect snapshot of the ruthlessness of boxing.

Commey (29-3, 26 KOs) looked unstoppable for the majority of the Beltran fight. In the first round, Commey attacked Beltran like a pit bull and nearly had him out of their early. Commey scored two knockdowns. His straight left, right combo did the initial damage, and his hooks followed up with a torrent of punishment.

Somehow, Beltran made it through the round, though his luck didn’t improve. Commey put Beltran down again in round 5, and round 8 before the referee waived the fight off. Looking at the stats and Commey’s hammering blows, he looked like the type of boxer that could knock out anybody with a single blow. His 81 percent KO rating backs that statement up.

But rewatch that fight carefully. As the time dwindled in round 1 and Commey tried to finish Beltran, he got caught with a left hook that wobbled him and nearly changed the tenor of the early going.

Beltran couldn’t capitalize on Commey’s weakness, but Lopez did. When they fought in December of 2019, Commey had a good first round, but in the final minute, Lopez started to time him with powerful left hooks that took a toll.

In round 2, Commey ate more left hooks. He grew weary of Lopez’s best punch and got set up for the perfect shot. Commey tried to anticipate a Lopez left hook that never came. He slid too far to his left and took a right cross straight on.

Commey went down to one knee and tried to bounce back up, unaware of the rattling trauma he just absorbed. After all, he had never been knocked down as a professional boxer up to that point.

Commey tumbled across the ring as he struggled to get his legs to work but eventually made it to his feet. He tried to fight back, but Lopez was too strong, and Commey was too hurt to defend himself. The referee waved the fight off, and Lopez took Commey’s IBF belt.

That was 14 months ago. The pandemic delayed Commey’s comeback, but he returns to the ring on Saturday, Feb.13, against Jackson Marinez. Marinez (19-1, 7 KOs) should be the WBA interim lightweight champion, but horrific judging robbed him of that honor when he fought Rolando “Rolly” Romero. That’s a different type of trauma for another story.

Richard Commey looks forward to boxing his way back to the top against Jackson Marinez

Losing is hard enough, but getting stopped has a way of messing with a fighter’s psyche. Some boxers never come back the same way after a knockout loss. Commey believes that he can.

“This is boxing,” Commey told FanSided. “Champions always fall at one point.”

Commey has waited a long time to have an opportunity to get back on the metaphorical saddle. He’s from Ghana and spends a lot of time in his home country, but made a second home in New York, with the Havoc boxing team led by trainer Andre Rozier. Commey has been training in the states since August, waiting for his shot.

“I was in Ghana during the lockdown,” said Commey. “I came when in when everything was a little bit eased. I came in mid-August. Waiting for my date, I was supposed to fight, and then it was pushed back. Since I’ve been back, I’ve been training and taking my time and going to the gym and working out.”

Commey is 33 years old. He’s not old, but he’s quickly aging for a boxer. Even with Father Time passing every day, Commey’s main lesson from the Lopez fight is to take his time.

“What I really learned is I should have took my time,” reflected Commey. “After the first round, I should have gotten my composure. I shouldn’t rush into it. The second thing that I learned is when I went down, I should have relaxed a little bit.”

Commey believed that his power would do the trick against Lopez and that he would fall like the other 26 foes. That didn’t happen. Lopez set a trap and executed when it mattered the most. Commey threw caution to the wind, and he believes that he learned his lesson.

Commey’s friends and fans in Ghana reassured him that everyone loses at some point. Some were more distraught than others, but the solution to his and their pain is simple in Commey’s mind.

“I got to come back, wipe off the tears off their face by winning another world title for them,” said Commey beautifully without realizing it.

Commey still believes in his boxing abilities, but he also believes that his future is out of his hands to a degree. He can only do so much, and there has to be some trust in fate, according to Commey.

“Anything happens [in boxing],” said Commey. “It’s all about getting back and winning another world title. I’m the kind of person that I believe in God, and I know, whatever happens, happens for a reason.”

Marinez represents Commey’s first step towards regaining a world title. Commey isn’t looking to reinvent the wheel but continues to train and repeat his new mantra, “take my time.”

“I don’t have to go in there and maybe after the first round, fight and going crazy in the second round,” said Commey. “I should take my time. That’s the most important thing.”

Commey proved that he’s a champion. Whether or not a disappointing loss damaged his confidence remains to be seen. Commey wants another chance at a title, but Marinez comes first. Now it’s up to fate to decide the rest.

Watch Richard Commey vs. Jackson Marinez on Saturday, Feb. 13, on ESPN. Coverage begins at 10 p.m. ET.