Former champ Ray Beltran looks to regain title

IBF lightweight champ Richard Commey will make his first title defense against former champion Ray Beltran. The two will tangle on June 28th, headlining a Top Rank on ESPN card, at the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California.

Beltran (36-8-1, 22 KO’s), as nice a guy as you will meet in the game, is in the twilight of his career at 37 years old. However, the rugged veteran is a tough out for anyone. He finally hoisted a title belt above his head, on his 4th title attempt, in February of 2018, beating Paulus Moses by UD 12. However, 6-months later he lost the title in his first title defence against Jose Pedraza in Arizona by unanimous decision.

He retuned in 2019 with an impressive KO of undefeated Hiroki Okada and is now poised to enter into title attempt # 5 against the tough Accra, Ghana based Commey.

Commey (28-2, 25 KO’s) is tough, talented and has fight-ending power. But, he is with an iron-chinned Beltran who hasn’t been stopped in 11 years. Commey picked up his first world title in February of this year stopping Isa Chaniev in Frisco, Texas. Commey had previously lost a SD to champion Robert Easter in 2016 in a bid for the IBF lightweight title.

With Commey not winning his first world title until age 32, and Beltran wearing all of his 20-year, 45-fight career on him at age 37, we have two motivated fighters who know that time may not be on their side. They are both going to be very driven fighters as they know a win is a huge career extension and a loss is a big setback.

In short, we could have a doozy on our hands here folks.

In pre-fight interviews, both fighters expressed respect for one another as well as confidence heading into the bout.

“I’m honoured to be headlining an ESPN show as a world champion and to be fighting former world champion Ray Beltran, whom I have the utmost respect for,” said Commey. “This is an opportunity for me to show the American public that I’m here to become the undisputed lightweight champion of the world. The path is set and come June 28, I’ll be ready to rock ’n’ roll.”

Beltran, who knows title shots won’t keep coming along forever, plans to make the most of this bout and bring the title back to his American home in Arizona.

“I’m excited about this fight with Richard Commey,” said Beltran. “I’ve been the WBO champion and I intend to be the IBF champion on June 28. I expect a tough fight but that’s the kind of fight I like. We are both very experienced, so it will come down to who is willing to lay his heart on the line that night. After losing my title to Jose Pedraza, I think some people thought I was done but I always come back and prove that I belong”, continued Beltran.

Beltran, who often trained out of the Wildcard Boxing Club in Hollywood, California was also happy to announce that he’d have Wildcard boss Freddie Roach back in his corner come fight night.

“I’m excited to announce that Freddie Roach is back in my corner after all these years. When I was working with Manny Pacquiao, I saw what Freddie can do, both in camp and in the corner. I’m grateful to Top Rank and ESPN for having me back. The only thing I want for my birthday (July 23) is the IBF world title,” said Beltran.