Commey arrives to rapturous welcome in Accra

Richard Commey has arrived in Ghana a week after beating Gary Buckland to win the vacant Commonwealth Lightweight championship.

The unbeaten boxer added the British Empire to his Africa Boxing Union (ABU) title after extending his 100% career record to 18 fights with 17 knockouts to boot following the unanimous points victory over the Welshman in London.

The Ghanaian has been in London since February with his coach, Lawrence Carl Lokko for a fight he thought was going to be against Derry Mathews on March 7. But Matthews withdrew barely weeks to fight day with the Commonwealth Boxing Council promptly stripping him of the title and Commey’s compatriot, Benjamin Ashley lined up as replacement.

But the supposed fight against Ashley on May 17 could also not materialize due to visa acquisition problems by the Ghanaian and his team in Accra, thereby setting up the fight against Buckland, a former British Junior Lightweight champion.

Commey duly dealt with Buckland on July 12 to claim the title and up his world title credentials as his quest to follow in the giant footsteps of his childhood idols, Azumah Nelson and Ike Quartey continues unabated.

“Congratulations Richard Commey for winning this title, we are very proud of you. This again reiterates our continued calls on government to support boxing a little more as they do football and I believe we will be bringing more honour to Ghana than football ever has,” GBA chief, Peter Zwennes said.

Commey and his coach thanked all those who made it to the airport to welcome them and pledged to work harder to ultimately win the world title for them.

“Richard is very hardworking and obedient, he listens and learns and I am very confident that we are on the right path and surely Richard will be a world champion,” Coach Carl Lokko said.