Richard Commey: A Closer Look at a Hot Prospect

By Jeremiah “Griffo’s Handkerchief” Preisser

The word Ghana means “Warriors King” in Mande, a language spoken by the Soninke people of West Africa. The title itself was bestowed upon the medieval kings of the Empire of Ghana, a kingdom enriched by trans-Saharan trade of salt and gold. Today, though the warriors and kings have been replaced by modern equipped military personnel and presidents, the tradition has been carried on by the coastal nation’s Western-styled boxers.

Since the 1950’s, hardened men from the sovereign republic proved tough for their in-ring foes. Men like Roy “The Black Flash” Ankrah, Floyd “Klutei” Robertson, and Love Allotey, were gifted and collectively stopped only five times in 156 bouts. More recently, Ghanaian legends such as Azumah Nelson, aka “The Professor”, Ike “Bazooka” Quartey, Joshua “Grand Master” Clottey, and Joseph “King Kong” Agbeko have made their marks in boxing rings around the world, proving not only more skilled than their predecessors, but also just as tough. Clottey and Agbeko are still active, but with Quartey coming before Clottey and Nelson preceding Quartey, someone must step in to carry on this warrior tradition. That man may indeed be a 5’9” puncher from Accra named Richard Oblitey Commey.

The Ghanaian lightweight is thin and muscular, sporting the sinewy flesh of so many tall, hard-hitting pugilists of the past. He speaks with a bright smile and discernible accent, though his English is good and continuously improves. He is personable and polite, but not inside the boxing ring. When his feet touch the sweat-soaked canvass and the spotlight is on him, his demeanor changes to a cold, calculated expression with a blazing fistic fervor shining brightly in his eyes. His intentions are ill and guiding his opponents down knockout alley is his sole purpose.

So far, twenty of his twenty-two gloved foes have not heard the final bell and Commey hopes that they are the only two to ever hear it. But despite his 91% knockout rate, the Ghana-native is not a lights out puncher. He is, however, heavy-handed, active, and fights with a fiery passion and dogged determination. That is how most stoppages come, by wearing his man down. The most glaring case and point is his recent fight with highly-skilled Uzbek, Bahodir Mamadjonov. In a competitive bout, Commey had to overcome the savvy boxing of his lightweight challenger by maintaining his work rate and never allowing Mamadjonov to break his will. Eventually, Richard was able to wear his man down and halted the ten-round contest via a volley of blows against the ropes. It was his best victory to date.

The Ghanaian also has a steady jab, an ever-improving defense, is a quality body puncher, and doesn’t rely on singular strikes. His combination punching, when utilized, is one of his strongest assets and one can only hope he maintains it as part of his arsenal. The match with Bahodir Mamadjonov, once again, highlights this.

Commey, dedicated to the “sweet science”, has worked in a number of gyms to fine tune his ability, even seeking work at Floyd Mayweather’s boxing abode in Las Vegas. He fine tunes his craft in Europe, as well, working under the biggest boxing promotional company in Germany’s. Sauerland Promotions.

Richard Commey’s next bout is scheduled for the 18th of July, 2015, in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. His fistic test is yet to be named, but with such short notice, it isn’t likely to be anyone who will provide him a real test.

Sauerland Promotions will continue to keep the African busy and bring him along at a reasonable pace, but hopefully not too slowly. With a mere six amateur bouts under him and a twenty-two fight pro career, Commey is a natural and looks to have great upside. He is warrior in the great tradition of West African warriors.

From here, it’s merely a matter of conjoining that courage and spirit with the ability.

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