Teofimo Lopez vs. Richard Commey - 14 December 2019

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The fight between lightweight world titlist Richard Commey and mandatory challenger Teofimo Lopez is being planned for the Top Rank Boxing on ESPN card on Dec. 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York, multiple sources with knowledge of the plans told ESPN. The fight, which has not yet been finalized, would take place on the card that likely will be headlined by welterweight world titlist Terence Crawford’s mandatory defense against Egidijus Kavaliauskas. Prospect Michael Conlan, who is planning to move down to junior featherweight, is also ticketed for the card and could face either former titlist Isaac Dogboe or Genesis Servania, both of whom would be a big step up in opposition. It would air on ESPN immediately following the network’s Heisman Trophy presentation show taking place a few blocks away in Manhattan.


Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer

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Commey (29-2, 26 KOs), 32, a Ghana native fighting out of New York, will be making his second title defense after winning a vacant belt by second-round knockout of Isa Chaniev in February and dropping former world titlist Ray Beltran four times en route to an eighth-round knockout victory on June 28.

Commey has won four fights in a row by knockout.

"I'm very excited to fight at the Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden, in my second world title defense against Teofimo Lopez," Commey said. "My lifelong dream of becoming a world champion became a reality through many years of hard work in my homeland of Ghana through the U.K., Europe and finally in the United States. I want to thank everyone on my team for making this possible. On Dec. 14, I will put on another spectacular performance in defending my world title for my fans in the arena and those watching on ESPN and around the world."

Lopez (14-0, 11 KOs), 22, of New York, however, figures to be a far more difficult opponent than Commey's recent foes. The 2018 ESPN prospect of the year is one of boxing's fastest rising young fighters and coming off a unanimous decision over Masayoshi Nakatani on July 19 in an elimination bout to earn the title shot, although he received some criticism for a pedestrian performance.

"I'm finally back at Madison Square Garden, the place where I always wanted to win my first world title," said Lopez, who has brought on former world titleholder and noted trainer Joey Gamache to serve as an assistant to his father, Teofimo Lopez Sr. "I believe this fight will shut up all of the critics and prove to everyone that I back up my talking in the ring. I respect Commey as a champion, but when we're in that ring, it's going to be lights out for him. Come Dec. 14, I am officially taking over the lightweight division."

The winner is likely headed for a fight for the undisputed 135-pound world title against three-belt champion and pound-for-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko.

"Richard has fought all over the world for many years to achieve his lifelong dream of not only becoming a true world champion, but also becoming a boxing star, and on Dec. 14 against Teofimo Lopez, I believe that he will successfully defend his title for the second time in spectacular fashion," said Lou DiBella, Commey's promoter.

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The 32-year-old Commey (29-2, 26 KOs), a native of Ghana who resides in the Bronx, came in at 134¼ pounds for his IBF lightweight title defense against Lopez (14-0, 11 KOs). Brooklyn’s Lopez, 22, also got on the NYSAC’s scale at 134¼ pounds.

[MightyWarrior]

https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/ ... ace-family

Great article, crazy backstory.. looks like one of the next big stars..though his dad pissing off Loma could backfire ...

[TheGoods]

Good fight. UK coverage?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Good fight. UK coverage?

Eir Sports 1. Is available on Sky. £11 p/m

[NoScoutingReports]

Think I'll set an alarm and get up to stream this, quite an interesting fight.

[Stuarty]

Massive test for Lopez. Will find out exactly what he's all about tonight. I think he'll take it on points, perhaps undeservedly...

[NoScoutingReports]

Massive test for Lopez. Will find out exactly what he's all about tonight. I think he'll take it on points, perhaps undeservedly...

This could well happen, Commey is a real handful and his only defeats have been close split decisions. Lopez wasn't groundbreaking against Nakatani and this is obviously a big step up.

[Stuarty]

Massive test for Lopez. Will find out exactly what he's all about tonight. I think he'll take it on points, perhaps undeservedly...

This could well happen, Commey is a real handful and his only defeats have been close split decisions. Lopez wasn't groundbreaking against Nakatani and this is obviously a big step up.

Aye that's my thinking mate. Could argue Commey should still be undefeated! He looked in fierce shape at the weigh in yesterday!

[NoScoutingReports]

This could well happen, Commey is a real handful and his only defeats have been close split decisions. Lopez wasn't groundbreaking against Nakatani and this is obviously a big step up.

Aye that's my thinking mate. Could argue Commey should still be undefeated! He looked in fierce shape at the weigh in yesterday!

Definitely. Poor that BT haven't picked this up, thought it would be nailed on with the Conlan fight but they've gone with the UFC tonight.

[Stuarty]

Aye that's my thinking mate. Could argue Commey should still be undefeated! He looked in fierce shape at the weigh in yesterday!

Definitely. Poor that BT haven't picked this up, thought it would be nailed on with the Conlan fight but they've gone with the UFC tonight.

Aye it's piss poor nobody over here has it on. I'll try and YouTube this, Conlon and Crawford tomorrow morning hopefully

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Aye that's my thinking mate. Could argue Commey should still be undefeated! He looked in fierce shape at the weigh in yesterday!

Definitely. Poor that BT haven't picked this up, thought it would be nailed on with the Conlan fight but they've gone with the UFC tonight.

They show UFC regardless though. Usually on BT2, this time it’s on BT1 and TBH, it’s arguably the best card of the year. They could have still picked up the boxing though.

Eir Sports have only picked it up cuz of Conlan. He’s opening the telecast, imagine they only showed the Conlan fight?

[NoScoutingReports]

Definitely. Poor that BT haven't picked this up, thought it would be nailed on with the Conlan fight but they've gone with the UFC tonight.

They show UFC regardless though. Usually on BT2, this time it’s on BT1 and TBH, it’s arguably the best card of the year. They could have still picked up the boxing though.

Eir Sports have only picked it up cuz of Conlan. He’s opening the telecast, imagine they only showed the Conlan fight?

I read an article on the Eir Sports website which also covered the Crawford fight so I'd guess they must be showing the bouts after Conlan, surely?!

[Ruthless-RKO]

They show UFC regardless though. Usually on BT2, this time it’s on BT1 and TBH, it’s arguably the best card of the year. They could have still picked up the boxing though.

Eir Sports have only picked it up cuz of Conlan. He’s opening the telecast, imagine they only showed the Conlan fight?

I read an article on the Eir Sports website which also covered the Crawford fight so I'd guess they must be showing the bouts after Conlan, surely?!

Yh it’s 2am to 6am I think

[Glass Joe]

pretty easy to find an ESPN stream so i have been told.

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With the same-day limit set for 145 pounds, Commey checked in at 144 pounds, while Lopez was 144.4 pounds, clearing the path for their highly anticipated title fight showdown Saturday evening at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

[Glass Joe]

i might be watching the card now. not sure whether to stay up or not.

[NoScoutingReports]

i might be watching the card now. not sure whether to stay up or not.

I've got it on too feel quite fresh at the minute so we will see!

[Glass Joe]

bay knockdown could be the difference

[NoScoutingReports]

SD win for Kambosos Jnr.

[NoScoutingReports]

Rodriguez v Mendez was a solid tear up