Friday 17 May, 2019. Accra-Ghana: Richard Commey to headline an ESPN show, as a world champion, on June 28 against Ray Beltran.
Confirmed: IBF lightweight world champion Richard Commey (28- 2, 25 KOs) makes his first defense against Raymundo Beltran (36-8-1,22KOs) in a Top Rank on ESPN main event Friday, June 28 at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California. USA.
The Ghanaian lightweight world champion expressed his delight and appreciation to Top Rank and ESPN for the honour done him.
“I’m honored to be headlining an ESPN show as a world champion, and to be fighting former world champion Ray Beltran, whom I have the utmost respect for,” Commey said. “This is an opportunity for me to show the American public that I’m here to become the undisputed lightweight champion of the world. The path is set, and come June 28, I’ll be ready to rock ‘n’ roll.” Richard Commey expressed.
But his opponent, a former WBO world champion and a Mexican professional boxer, Raymundo Beltran, is already predicting victory.
“I’m excited about this fight with Richard Commey. I’ve been the WBO champion, and I intend to be the IBF champion on June 28,” Beltran said. “I expect a tough fight, but that’s the kind of fight I like. We are both very experienced, so it will come down to who is willing to lay his heart on the line that night.
After losing my title to Jose Pedraza, I think some people thought I was done, but I always come back and prove that I belong. I’m excited to announce that Freddie Roach is back in my corner after all these years. When I was working with Manny Pacquiao, I saw what Freddie can do, both in camp and in the corner. I’m grateful to Top Rank and ESPN for having me back. The only thing I want for my birthday (July 23) is the IBF world title.”
Ramundo Beltran won the WBO world title against the now retired Moses Paulus in a vacant World Boxing Organisation World Lightweight Title fight, but later lost in his first defense against Jose Pedraza in August 25, 2018. He faces one of the most feared and avoided fighters in Richard Commey, who blew away Russian Isa Chaniev in a pulsating round 2 TKO early February this year.