Former IBF World Lightweight Champion Richard Commey proved to be too strong and too powerful for Jackson Marinez.
Commey scored two knockdowns in the sixth, the second of which convinced referee Kenny Bayless to stop the fight at 2:35 of the sixth.
Oh, the signature @RichardCommey celebration was back, too. 🕺 #CommeyMarinez pic.twitter.com/rssWQA36j3
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) February 14, 2021
It was another reminder that Ghana’s Commey (30-3, 27 KOs) remains one of the hardest hitters in the division—and it also puts the 33-year-old back in the mix for a world title shot at 135-pounds.
Undefeated, unified world lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez, who beat Commey for the IBF strap in December 2019, was on hand at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, offering support to his one-time opponent throughout the fight and congratulating him afterward.
The support wasn't just in the locker room before the fight.@TeofimoLopez is looming ringside, encouraging @RichardCommey in the middle rounds of this main event.#CommeyMarinez | LIVE NOW on ESPN pic.twitter.com/VUQVXN7yVU
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) February 14, 2021
This was Commey’s first bout since that loss and the 14-month ring rust showed early on. Marinez (19-2, 7 KOs) might have won the first two rounds by using his jab and footwork. The 30-year-old Dominican last fought in August, losing a controversial decision to Rolando Romero for the WBA interim vacant lightweight title.
Those smooth boxing skills were on display against Commey but once the Ghanaian warmed up, he was in seek and destroy mode until he nailed his target. Round by round, Commey slowly broke Marinez’s will, walking him down behind the jab and working him up and downstairs once he was pinned against the ropes.
“I didn’t get my rhythm right in the first two rounds,” said Commey. “I settled down and caught him.”
A short right in the fifth momentarily buzzed Marinez, who was moving less and taking more punishment. Commey continued to press the attack, battering Marinez throughout the frame. The end occurred in the sixth. With :50 seconds remaining in the stanza, a hard right rocked Marinez as his back was against the ropes. He was halfway down when another right cut the travel time in half.
Marinez made it to his feet but went down again even quicker as another right dropped him hard. A count wasn’t needed.
With the win, Commey now returns to the upper echelon of a divisions tacked with big names, including the aforementioned Lopez, Gervonta “Tank” Davis, Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney and Vasiliy Lomachenko. Stay tuned to BoxingAfrica.com for more details.
