Vasily Lomachenko vs. Richard Commey = done deal for Dec.11th at Madison Squarge Garden

By Boxing News - 10/13/2021 - Comments

By Sean Jones: Vasily Lomachenko vs. Richard Commey is a done deal for December 11th at Madison Square Garden in New York. Top Rank boss Bob Arum is confirming the Lomachenko – Commey fight is done for December 11th at MSG.

It’s a good fight that will put Lomachenko (15-2, 11 KOs) in a position to challenge for the WBC or WBO titles after four-belt champion Teofimo Lopez vacates the straps and moves up to 140.

It would be nice if Teofimo stayed at 135 to give Lomachenko a rematch, but Arum says he’s not interested in fighting the two-time Olympic gold medalist Loma.

Instead of Teofimo fighting Lomachenko in a lucrative rematch, he’ll be moving up to light welterweight to challenge undisputed champion Josh Taylor.

Former IBF 135-lb champion Commey (30-3, 27 KOs) won his last fight against Jackson Marinez by a sixth round knockout last February after losing his previous contest to Teofimo by a second knockout in 2019.

“That’s done,” said Bob Arum to iFL TV on the Vasily Lomachenko vs. Richard Commey fight. “That’s December 11th at Madison Square Garden. That’s done.

Image: Vasily Lomachenko vs. Richard Commey = done deal for Dec.11th at Madison Squarge Garden

“I know Loma wants a rematch [with Teofimo]. Whether Lopez gives it to him is up to Lopez,” Arum said when asked if we could see a rematch between Lomachenko and Teofimo in 2022.

“I can only do so much. I give them advice, tell them what my preference is, and explain to them what the money is, but I let them do what they want to do. Obviously, Loma wants to do the rematch [with Teofimo].

“Lopez, you listen to him. He keeps saying he doesn’t want it. Again, he’s the fighter, and if he doesn’t want to do it, he doesn’t do it,” said Arum.

It’s evident that Teofimo (16-0, 12 KOs) doesn’t want any part of a rematch with Lomachenko after beating him 12 months ago in October 2020.

Many boxing fans think Teofimo has lost his nerve after defeating an injured Lomachenko and struggling during the championship rounds.

After Lomachenko dismantled Masayoshi Nakatani by a ninth round knockout on June 26th, that performance may have scared off Teofimo for good.

Commey has a puncher’s chance against Lomachenk, but that’s about it. He’s not in the same league as Lomachenko talent-wise, as we saw in him getting blown out by Teofimo in 2019. Commey is a good fighter with excellent size and power, but he falls apart when facing good opposition.

Once Lomachenko gets past Commey, it’s up to Arum whether he wants to have Loma fight for one of the belts that Teofimo vacates if he successfully defeats his IBF mandatory George Kambosos Jr. in November or December.

WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney would be an obvious choice for Lomachenko to fight. Still, he recently said he was no longer interested in fighting him due to his defeat against Teofimo.

Some boxing fans believe Haney doesn’t want to fight Lomachenko because he’s afraid and knows he’ll get exposed.

Haney’s recent performance against Jorge Linares last May didn’t do much to change the minds of fans that believe that he’s afraid of Lomachenko and it would be a sacrificial lamb for him to slaughter if he took that fight.