Richard Commey Fully Cleared, Targeting Title Defense In The Summer

IBF lightweight champion Richard Commey is ready to get back in the gym and train for his first title defense.

The news came from Commey’s Twitter account, where he said he is fully cleared and is hoping to return to the ring in June. No opponent was mentioned by Commey, nor were details of his planned defense aside from it taking place in the summer.

Boom! Just had the all clear from the doctor here in New York, back in the gym tomorrow and looking to defend my @IBFUSBAboxing title in June———— #AndStill @Mickey_Moo @BoxingGhana @KBouhairie @loudibella @eaner0919 @Everlast_ @SNACsystem @DiBellaEnt @Streetwisemgt

— Richard Commey (@RichardCommey) April 2, 2019

Commey won the title this past February when he stopped Isa Chaniev in the second round of their fight. The title was vacant after Mikey Garcia surrendered it in order to move up to welterweight to challenge for Errol Spence Jr.’s welterweight belt in March.

Top Rank had hoped to get Commey ready in time for a three-belt title unification against unified WBA and WBO champion Vasiliy Lomachenko on April 12. That unification was put on hold as Commey suffered an injury from that fight against Chaniev and unable to be fully prepared for the fight against Lomachenko. Instead of unifying against Commey, Lomachenko will defend his titles against mandatory challenger Anthony Crolla on April 12. The hope from both sides is that Commey gets the opportunity to face Lomachenko later this year.

The 32-year-old Commey has won four straight fights after losing a title fight against Robert Easter Jr. and then against Denis Shafikov in 2016.