Ghana’s first man on the land, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has in a tweet sent a congratulatory message to the newly crowned IBF world lightweight champion Richard Oblitey Commey after he made a quick work on Isa Chaniev.
The president’s message read;
“I send warm congratulations to Richard Oblitey Commey on his well-deserved victory over Isa Chaniev, and thereby becoming world IBF Lightweight champion. Best of luck to him in the coming years. We are proud of him.”
Commey early this morning made Ghana proud when he totally outclassed and outboxed his nemesis to his second shot at the strap, Isa Chaniev and according to the compubox, the Ghanaian landed 33 of 105 (31%) of his total punches and 29 of 69 (42%) of his power shots as against Chaniev’s 23 of 81 (28%) total punches and 19 of 64 (30%) of his power shots.
The fight started as a very even round midway through with Commey using more jabs and Chaniev looking to counter with hooks to the body until Commey’s double combination of right-hand drops Chaniev in the first round.
The knockdown took a toll on the Russian and was saved by the bell. The second round started with another knockdown when the Ghanaian split flash left hook right at the beginning took Chaniev to the canvas once again and though he recovered, a series of incessant power combinations of attacks from Commey compelled Referee Lawrence Cole to halt the fight.
Richard Commey suffered two hotly contested and controversial split decision losses against former IBF world champion American Robert Easter Junior and Denis Shafikov of Russia respectively in 2016.
The victory means Richard Commey is now Ghana’s ninth world champion after the likes of Azumah Nelson, Joshua Clottey, Isaac Dogboe, Joseph Agbeko, Ike Quartey, Nana Yaw Konadu, Alfred Kotey, DK Poison and the likes.
Richard is flying back to New York as we speak and will be flying back to the UK tonight then finally to Ghana.
A reliable source has it that the presidency is eager to welcome him upon his return for his monumental feat.
BoxingGhana.Com will keep your posted on the latest on this developing story.