Vasiliy Lomachenko will look to create another big moment inside Madison Square Garden when he faces Richard Commey on December 11.
It was announced that the two will compete in a lightweight bout. Potential title implications may be on the line, as Lomachenko and Commey are looking to fight WBA, IBF, WBO, and The Ring Lightweight Champion Teofimo Lopez once again.
Lomachenko made his boxing debut in 2013. After losing his second fight, Lomachenko would go on a thirteen-fight win streak. He would become WBO Featherweight and Junior-Lightweight Champion, beating the likes of Gary Russell Jr., Guillermo Rigondeaux, and Miguel Marriaga.
The Ukrainian would make his Madison Square Garden main theater debut in 2018, beating Jorge Linares for the WBA and The Ring Lightweight Titles. Lomachenko would then defend the titles against Jose Pedraza, Anthony Crolla, and Luke Campbell, winning the WBC and WBO Titles along the way. Lopez would then beat Lomachenko for the belts in 2020. Taking time off, Lomachenko would beat Masayoshi Nakatani, a former opponent of Lopez, via TKO in June.
“It is always special when I fight at Madison Square Garden, where so many great moments in my career have taken place," said Lomachenko. "Richard Commey is a former world champion, an opponent I will not underestimate. I expect the best version of Commey, and I will be prepared for whatever he brings on December 11.”
Commey is also a previous opponent of Lopez. Making his debut in 2011, Commey had his 24-fight unbeaten streak end against Robert Easter Jr. in 2016, fighting for the IBF Lightweight Title. He would go 5-1 after, beating Isa Chaniev for the IBF Lightweight title.
Commey would lose the belt to Lopez via TKO in 2019 and recently rebounded by beating Jackson Marinez via KO.
“I want to thank my team of Michael Amoo-Bediako, Lou DiBella, and Keith Connolly for getting me this opportunity," Commey stated. "Ever since the Lopez fight, all I have thought about is becoming a two-time world champion. This fight against Lomachenko will get me one step closer to my goal. I also want to thank Bob Arum and Top Rank for the opportunity to again grace the stage at Madison Square Garden, one of boxing’s most iconic venues. I know that most people consider me the underdog, but I am aiming to prove them all wrong and make Ghana proud once again.”
Also on the card will be heavyweight prospect Jared Anderson facing Oleksandr Teslenko, as well as prospects Xander Zayas and Nico Ali Walsh. The latter is the grandson of Muhammad Ali.
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