TEMECULA, Calif. -- Occasionally in boxing you get a title fight that raises some eyebrows. Sometimes those eyebrows are raised because a fighter who hasn't done anything to warrant getting a title shot gets one. Other times eyebrows are raised because the champion has no top shelf wins and the challenger is nearly 40 years old and lost his last major fight handily. The latter scenario is what fans will get on June 28 on ESPN when IBF lightweight champion Richard Commey makes the first defense of his title against tough veteran Raymundo Beltran.
What Commey (28-2, 25 KOs) lacks in skills he makes up for with power. He often gets too wide with his punches and doesn't seem to worry much about return fire but when he catches his opponent clean it often results in them meeting the canvas. When Commey uses his jab it's mostly as a measuring stick or punch to set up a power shot behind it. His left hook is a wide, looping punch but it can certainly do damage and his right hand is explosive. The Ghanaian is at his best when he's on the attack and letting his punches fly but he's certainly vulnerable to slick fighters who can counter him and dance out of danger. Luckily for Commey, Beltran isn't one of those slick fighters.
It seems odd that Commey even has a world title. He's certainly a good fighter and a huge puncher but he lacks a single top shelf win on his resume. After beginning his professional career in 2011 Commey went undefeated until 2016. That loss came against Robert Easter Jr. in what would be Commey's first shot at a world title. He followed that loss up with another one, this time to Denis Shafikov. Those two fights were the biggest of Commey's career and Easter and Shafikov represent his two best opponents to date. While both fights where close, with Commey losing each via split decision, he hasn't really beat anyone of note since and yet is somehow the world champion. Since those losses Commey has been a perfect 4-0 with three knockouts but those fights haven't come against opponents at the same level as Easter or Shafikov.
At 38 years old this fight could very well be Beltran's (36-8-1, 22 KOs) last shot at a world title. What he's lacked in skills or fancy footwork the veteran has always made up for in heart and tenacity. Beltran likes to walk straight in and often forgets to do so behind his jab. Instead he waits until he's in the pocket to unleash his heavy left hook and strong right hand. Beltran is at his best when he has his opponent squared up against the ropes where he can mix in some body shots and uppercuts while still doing damage upstairs with both hands. If you try and stand and trade with Beltran you might win but you'll also have to absorb plenty of punishment.
Beltran has been fighting professionally for 20 years and after being mostly known as Manny Pacquiao's chief sparring partner he made a name for himself later in his career. He's fought for a world title four times, all with frustrating results. In 2013 Beltran challenged Ricky Burns in the champions backyard and that fight ended in a controversial draw. His next title shot came in 2014 when he was badly beaten by Terence Crawford. In 2015 Beltran fought for a vacant title against Takahiro Ao but didn't make weight which meant he couldn't win the title. He then tested positive for a banned substance after the fight and his win was changed to a no contest. In 2018 Beltran finally captured that elusive world title by beating Paulus Moses for a vacant WBO lightweight strap only to lose is six months later to Jose Pedraza. Beltran has fought once in 2019 and scored a knockout of Hiroki Okada and now he will now look to become a two-time world champ.
This should be a fan friendly fight because both Commey and Beltran have heavy hands and love to trade leather. Where Beltran will have the advantage is his experience level. Beltran has been in the ring with much better fighters than Commey and after a career that has spanned two decades, he knows all the tricks of the trade. Commey is younger, longer, and a more explosive puncher than his challenger though. Fans should expect a phone booth fight where both fighters take plenty of punishment but keep in mind that Commey has a great chin and has never tasted the canvas while Beltran has been dropped numerous times throughout his career.
PREDICTION: Raymundo Beltran rarely turns in a bad performance. He always comes to fight, even when he's a big underdog, and usually gives a good account of himself. That will be the case against Richard Commey as well. Beltran won't fold and he'll certainly land some meaningful shots but none of that will be enough to take the title from the champion. Commey is younger, more powerful, and has a sturdier chin and he will drop Beltran late, nearly stop him, and finish things with a unanimous decision victory.
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| Commey, moments after dropping Isa Chaniev |
It seems odd that Commey even has a world title. He's certainly a good fighter and a huge puncher but he lacks a single top shelf win on his resume. After beginning his professional career in 2011 Commey went undefeated until 2016. That loss came against Robert Easter Jr. in what would be Commey's first shot at a world title. He followed that loss up with another one, this time to Denis Shafikov. Those two fights were the biggest of Commey's career and Easter and Shafikov represent his two best opponents to date. While both fights where close, with Commey losing each via split decision, he hasn't really beat anyone of note since and yet is somehow the world champion. Since those losses Commey has been a perfect 4-0 with three knockouts but those fights haven't come against opponents at the same level as Easter or Shafikov.
At 38 years old this fight could very well be Beltran's (36-8-1, 22 KOs) last shot at a world title. What he's lacked in skills or fancy footwork the veteran has always made up for in heart and tenacity. Beltran likes to walk straight in and often forgets to do so behind his jab. Instead he waits until he's in the pocket to unleash his heavy left hook and strong right hand. Beltran is at his best when he has his opponent squared up against the ropes where he can mix in some body shots and uppercuts while still doing damage upstairs with both hands. If you try and stand and trade with Beltran you might win but you'll also have to absorb plenty of punishment.
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| Beltran, eating a right hand from Jose Pedraza |
This should be a fan friendly fight because both Commey and Beltran have heavy hands and love to trade leather. Where Beltran will have the advantage is his experience level. Beltran has been in the ring with much better fighters than Commey and after a career that has spanned two decades, he knows all the tricks of the trade. Commey is younger, longer, and a more explosive puncher than his challenger though. Fans should expect a phone booth fight where both fighters take plenty of punishment but keep in mind that Commey has a great chin and has never tasted the canvas while Beltran has been dropped numerous times throughout his career.
PREDICTION: Raymundo Beltran rarely turns in a bad performance. He always comes to fight, even when he's a big underdog, and usually gives a good account of himself. That will be the case against Richard Commey as well. Beltran won't fold and he'll certainly land some meaningful shots but none of that will be enough to take the title from the champion. Commey is younger, more powerful, and has a sturdier chin and he will drop Beltran late, nearly stop him, and finish things with a unanimous decision victory.
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