Richard Commey has really done it all. He grew up in Ghana as a footballer before turning to karate, kickboxing and eventually boxing before becoming the lightweight champion of the world in 2019. He’s already a hero to children in his home country. He could retire now and be happy.
But the 36-year-old is pressing onwards in pursuit of becoming a two-time world champion as he prepares to face the dangerous Jose Ramirez on Saturday night. He knows he’ll be the underdog against the skilled Mexican whose only defeat came against Josh Taylor in 2021.
Commey has already been toe-to-toe with Vasyl Lomachenko and Teofimo Lopez. He is not remotely phased by taking on the best in the game. If there’s anything he learned from Shotokan – the form of karate he studied in Ghana – it’s patience and the will to keep getting up again.
‘I really want to fight for a world title again so this fight is a big opportunity,’ he told Sportsmail. ‘I came through the toughest [life] in Ghana. Nothing was ever given to me. I’ve always been the B-side. I know a lot of people who write me off – which is very good! Less pressure on me.
‘I need to prove to people I’m much more than what you’ve seen so far. I’ve still got a lot more in me. I want to be a two-time world champion.’
Former lightweight champion Richard Commey has revealed how growing up as a karate fighter in Ghana has made him fearless in the ring
Commey faces Jose Ramirez on Saturday on his quest to become a two-time world champion
Commey is not your average boxer. His first experience in combat was to defend himself on the streets of Accra. It was the main way he and his friends would settle arguments. And after seeing the fighter he flourished into, eventually no one dared to challenge him.
‘When there’s an argument you fight. Whoever wins, you earn respect,’ he added. ‘I’m a quiet person but I always liked to fight on the streets, so that’s what I did.
‘When I was growing up – when people realised this is what I do – they don’t want to [try anything]. Everyone knows me, they know I can kick, I can punch and how dangerous I am. Where I am from, when people know you’re good at something they give you respect. There a lot of hardcore people where I am from but they would never ever try to attack me.’
Earlier in his life, shotokan had already moulded him into a tough fighter – one that ‘keeps coming’ even if he’s been put down.
‘[Shotokan] made my knuckles very hard,’ he said. I used to punch brick, I used to break them with my fist. My coach was called ‘body’. He was very strong, he used to do a one finger press-up. I can do two – but not one. What did Shotokan teach me? If you don’t kill me I keep coming.’
Commey added more strings to his bow as he travelled the world as a kickboxer, sweeping aside opponents during tournaments in Japan and the UAE. It wasn’t long before his coaches and colleagues urged him to try his luck at boxing.
Commey’s karate upbringing saw him punching bricks and doing two-finger push-ups
Commey said he would earn respect in Ghana as a youngster by fighting on the streets
He would win his first 24 fights – racking up 17 knockouts in a row – fighting from his home country to York Hall, Denmark, South Africa, Germany and America.
He’s been all over the world and eventually got his shot at a world title against Isa Chaniev – stopping him in the second round to become the IBF lightweight champion of the world.
He would defend his title once against Raymundo Beltran before he came across then-undefeated Teofimo Lopez – who knocked him out in round four. Things have been tough since then after a unanimous decision loss to Lomachenko two years later. His last fight was a split decision draw to Jose Pedraza.
More than anything Commey is grateful for his standing in the sport and how his story has inspired youngsters growing up in Ghana.
‘It means a lot – how many world champions have you got from Ghana? If people see me every day, if I’m always fighting for something, that will teach them something. All of them will think if I can do it, then they can also do it.
Facing Ramirez now means it won’t get any easier whatsoever, but Commey is learning plenty from his experienced foes – win, draw or loss.
‘I only had 50 amateur fights – Loma was an Olympian, Commey added, ‘Going 12 rounds with him, I learned so much but I should have done much better. I trained so hard in camp but. His timing is great.
The 36-year-old has suffered tough losses to Teofimo Lopez and Vasyl Lomachenko (left) but is not deterred and wants to take the experience into his fight against Ramirez
Commey will use his karate mindset of patience and timing to give himself an edge against Ramirez
‘With Lopez, that was the first time I was knocked out. When he caught me with the right, I was OK, I wasn’t dizzy. But I got up too early, so it was an experience – if I ever get put down, I should just get up slowly and move on.’
So how will he prepare for the threat of Ramirez? Commey doesn’t mind being the underdog once again. He insists he’s not even looking for a knockout in this fight. He’ll use his karate mindset – timing, discipline and patience – to prevail.
‘I’m taking all the guys I’ve fought who gave me problems – I’m taking that experience and putting into this fight,’ he says. ‘This fight really means a lot to me I’m very excited. I’m going there with everything I’ve got.
‘I know [Ramirez] is a pressure fighter – he always comes forward and tries to hit hard. Mexicans always have that style. It’s going to be a tough fight technically. If the knockout comes it comes but I never go in looking for it. I prefer for 12 rounds. Whatever I see in the ring, I’ll use it for my arsenal.’
Watch Jose Ramirez vs Richard Commey, live on Sky Sports, from 2am on Sunday March 26.
