With Richard Commey winning his IBF lightweight eliminator this past Saturday in San Antonio, the sanctioning body has formally notified lightweight titleholder Robert Easter Jr of his obligation to face Commey next.

It would be a rematch of a September 2016 fight for the then-vacant belt, which Easter (21-0, 14 KO) won by narrow split decision.

Since that first fight, Commey (26-2, 23 KO) has gone 2-1, losing a close fight to Denis Shafikov on the road in Russia, and beating Hedi Silmani and Alejandro Luna in his last two, the latter the eliminator. Easter has gone 3-0, defending his title against Luis Cruz, Shafikov, and Javier Fortuna. He has been somewhat unimpressive, relatively speaking, in those title defenses.

A rematch with Commey would have to bring the best out of Easter, though, because Commey is a very dangerous opponent. He dropped Easter in their first fight, and stopped Luna in six on Saturday.