When Richard Oblitey Commey mounts the ring against Russian Isa Аskhabovich Chaniev on February 2nd, it’s going to be anything but fireworks for a man destined for greatness in the art of pugilism.
This is Commey’s second attempt at the world title after a split decisional defeat to Robert Easter Junior which many touted “controversial” against the American in 2016.
Now the Jamestown native has the opportunity to rewrite the wrong and cement his name forever in the records of world boxing history and ode in Ghanaian boxing folklore which accommodates the like of Azumah Nelson, Ike Quartey so on and most recently Isaac Dogboe.
But who is Commey’s opponent?
Isa Chanuev
Isa Chaniev held the IBF Intercontinental and WBO International titles since 2017, his last encounter was a win against Venezuelan Ismael Barroso ( 20-3-2, 19 KOs) via a unanimous points decision in May 12, 2018.
With his totality of 91 rounds of boxing so far, Isa Chaniev had his debut just about three years ago on 31 January 2015 against Alexander Andrushchenko over four rounds which he won the contest via a UD.
His victim would later go four straight defeats on a bonce and is currently inactive.
Fedor Papazov, Coincidentally, the boxer that Baby Jet promotions leading fighter Emmanuel “Gameboy” Tagoe refused to defend his IBO lightweight world title against, which triggered the sanctioning body to strip him of his strap, was the one that defeated the Russian last year in May 25, 2017 .
With his 45 percentage KOs, the Russian biggest shine was the victory against Belgian Jean Pierre Bauwens Jnr (43-5-2, 24 KOs) which he won by points decision also over twelve rounds to claimed the IBF intercontinental title last year 2017.
He later defended and won in addition the vacant WBO International lightweight titles against Juan Martin Vicencio Elorde.
Richard Commey
The Russian must go through his biggest test ever after gracing the pugilistic world at age 22.
He comes up against a very experienced boxer who has tremendously improved over 30 percent since his last controversial defeat in his attempt to win the world title in 2016.
The Ghanaian who dispatched his last opponent Yardley Armanta Cruz in round 2 after defeating the then undefeated Alejandro Luna in round 6 via sixth round stoppage in March of this year 2018 is hot favourite according to boxing connoisseurs.
Once nicknamed the ‘Knockout Artiste,’ Richard Commey in percentage terms has an incredible 83 percent KOs over 161 rounds of boxing with a record (27-2, 24 KOs) in 29 explosive bouts.
In boxing anything is indeed possible as the popular mantra goes ……
What is certain is the fact that come Saturday night the second day of the popularly tagged month of love, February 2019, history would be made in Frisco Texas.