By Thomas Gerbasi

The first time Richard Commey stepped into a ring in the United States, he was a bit star struck by the bright lights of Las Vegas. On Friday, with a world title on the line, those jitters will be out of his system.

“The first time I was a little bit nervous,” said the Ghana native. “But for this time I’m comfortable coming to the U.S. because I know I won my first fight here. So it’s a bit easier for me.”

That fight – an eighth round TKO of Bahodir Mamadjonov – improved Commey’s record to 22-0 and also garnered him the IBF Intercontinental belt at 135 pounds. That was all well and good for Commey’s place in the rankings, as two more victories propelled him into this week’s bout against Robert Easter Jr. for the vacant IBF world championship.

But when the lead-up to the Vegas bout and his victory was featured in a Vice Sports documentary, Commey suddenly reached a new audience that heard his story and became invested in it. No longer was he an unknown, faceless challenger. He was a young man with a tradition to carry on.

And who better to mentor him about that tradition than Hall of Famer and fellow Ghana native Azumah Nelson.

“Azumah Nelson has been in this game for a long time, and he’s ‘The Professor,’” Commey said. “He always told me to go in there, put my head up, put my feet on the floor and just give my all. I should put everything and leave everything in the ring.”

It’s the way of the Ghanaian fighter. From Nelson and Ike Quartey to Joshua Clottey and Joseph Agbeko, fighters from the African nation, or more specifically, the Bukom area of Accra, are known not just for their skill, but for their tenacity and toughness. It means that whatever the unbeaten Easter has seen in his career thus far, he hasn’t seen anything like a fighter who is fighting for a lot more than a paycheck.

“It comes from the world we live in and we’ve got that heart,” he said of his country’s fighting tradition. “We grew up with just boxing and football. This is what we do and we’re used to it. It’s our way of living.”

As for those who came before him, Commey says, “Looking at them, I said, ‘Yeah I can do it.’ We look up to someone because if he’s done it, then we can also do it. That’s been the issue for the last year and I’m glad I’ve got an opportunity.”

If he takes advantage of that opportunity and secures his first world title, expect the 29-year-old to make his case for a title fight at home.

“If I do win, that’s definitely what I’m going to say,” he said. “My own people should see me.”

And if they do…

“It would be like living a dream. I can’t remember the last time a world title has been won and defended there.”

There would be no better fighter to do it than the classy Commey, who is comfortable being someone who the next generation of Ghanaian fighters can look up to.



“When you’re coming up and you have people looking up to you and watching you, it’s always good to be a role model to people,” he said.

All that’s left is Friday night in Reading, Pennsylvania, Robert Easter Jr., and 12 rounds or less to win a world championship.



“It’s mixed emotions,” he laughs. “I’m very excited, a little bit nervous, and it’s a great moment in my life. It’s what I’ve been working toward, so it’s great to have this opportunity. I know the goal is to see my dreams come true and I’m very excited for that.”