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Lomachenko Returns to Reconquer Lightweights, Garden USA ESPN Ten Bout Preview

By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent

 New York, NY (December 11th, 2021)– Southpaw former World Super Featherweight and Lightweight World Champion Vasyl Lomachenko, 15-2 with 11 knockouts, Oxnard, California via Ukraine, will return in the main event of a ten bout card on USA ESPN at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, December 11, 2021. It will be Loma’s second comeback bout since losing his World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation World Lightweight titles to Teofimo Lopez in Las Vegas, Nevada, at The Bubble, MGM Grand in October 2020.

 Lomachenko should knock out or stop opponent Richard Commey, 30-3 with 27 knockouts, Bronx, New York via Ghana, between rounds six and eight. An outstanding performance by Commey could take the bout to the scorecards, which still favors the more technically advanced boxer Lomachenko. To his detriment, Commey was stopped in the second round by Lopez in a lightweight titular unification bout at Madison Square Garden in December 2019. Commey has power, and he did retain his IBF Lightweight title in June 2019 with an impressive eighth round knockout of Reymundo Beltran. The common denominator is Lopez. Lomachenko went 12 rounds with Lopez, while Commey lasted 253 seconds. Lomachenko might be cautious for a few rounds, but should overpower Commey once his confidence element kicks in. Loma’s confidence was the best. He has to find it.

The result which emerges in Lomachenko versus Comney all depends on which version of Lomachenko and Comney shows up, and the Coronavirus Pandemic has proven a rough go for many world class fighters of recent, including: Mikey Garcia (lost); Manny Pacquiao (lost); Julian Williams (lost); Kid Galahad (lost); Lyndon Arthur (lost rematch with Anthony Yarde); Cassius Chaney (lost); Michael Hunter and Zhilei Zhang (both drew with Jerry Forrest); and Gennady Golovkin (bout postponed due to Pandemic restrictions in Japan). These outcomes are among many outcomes during the Pandemic which were not predicted to happen.

 In the heavyweight preliminary to the main event, 10-0 Jared Anderson of Toledo, Ohio, is predicted to stop 17-1 Oleksandr Teslenko, Montreal, Canada via Ukraine, in the seventh or eighth round. Teslenko was stopped by Shawendell Terel Winters in the fifth round of a NABA regional heavyweight title bout in September 2019.

 15-0 Puerto Rican southpaw lightweight prospect John Bauza is predicted to win by eight round decision over 19-0 Michael Williams Jr. of Fayetteville, North Carolina. Bauza’s opposition is a bit better than that of Williams to this point, and decisions of this type usually go to the hungrier fighter. 9-2 super featherweight James Wilkins of Dallas, Texas, is predicted to win by eight-round decision over 10-3 Juan Tapia of Brownsville, Texas, in a local scrap. 11-0 Puerto Rican super welterweight prospect Xander Zayas, with a better quality of opponents, is predicted to win by six-round decision over 9-1 visiting Italian Alessio Mastronunzio.

 5-1 Irish light heavyweight prospect Joseph Ward over 10-3-1 veteran Britton Norwood of Las Vegas. 3-0 super lightweight prospect and Olympic Silver Medalist Keyshawn Davis is predicted to win by six-round decision over 8-3-1 Mexican Jose Zaragoza, fighting out of Missouri. Zaragoza has beaten a 9-0-1 and a 6-1 of recent, so this should be an interesting challenge for rising ex-Olympian Davis. 5-0 New York City welterweight prospect Pablo Valdez by fourth-round stoppage of 11-3 Dominican Julio Cesar Sanchez, now fighting out of Queens, New York, loser of last three consecutive bouts outside of the Dominican Republic. 2-0 welterweight prospect Kelvin Davis, the older brother of Keyshawn Davis, is predicted to win by second or third-round stoppage of 1-3-1 Ryan Schwartzberg of Dania, Florida.

 The late former World Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali’s middleweight grandson Nico Ali Walsh will open the USA ESPN card is predicted to win by four rounds decision over 6-0 Reyes Sanchez of Topeka, Kansas. The record of Sanchez is padded, but neither Walsh or Sanchez has fought anybody of note, so they are being tested by each other. If Ali Walsh wins, the bout highlights might be shown before the main event, by virtue of his famous grandfather. Walsh does look like his famous grandfather, and does not appear to be the next Sugar Ray Robinson or Carlos Monzon. At age 21, Ali Walsh is young, hungry, and very tough. Good luck to him, as the middleweight division is tough for any rising prospect. His contract may be based on his name, but Ali Walsh seems to be serious and blazing his own path, for what it’s worth.

Broadway Loma: Vasiliy Lomachenko Set for “Dangerous” Richard Commey Saturday Evening at Madison Square Garden

Televised Quadruple-Header will air LIVE on ESPN & ESPN Deportes SATURDAY at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

RELENTLESS: LOMACHENKO now streaming on Top Rank’s YouTube Channel
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Relentless: Lomachenko streaming now on Top Rank’s YouTube Channel
NEW YORK (Dec. 7, 2021) — Vasiliy “Loma” Lomachenko, the former three-weight world champion, is determined to return to the top of the lightweight heap. A former unified lightweight champion, Lomachenko fights former world champion Richard “RC” Commey in a 12-round main event at Madison Square Garden this Saturday Dec. 11 live on ESPN & ESPN Deportes (simulcast on ESPN+).

Lomachenko (15-2, 11 KOs) last fought in June, knocking out Masayoshi Nakatani in nine rounds. George Kambosos Jr. recently staked his claim as the division’s top dog with last month’s split decision over Teofimo Lopez, who toppled Lomachenko by unanimous decision in October 2020.

Kambosos’ win shook up the lightweight picture, and Lomachenko aims to make a bold statement Saturday evening.

Lomachenko said, “Richard Commey has big power, reach and experience. This is an interesting challenge for me, and I know it’s a fight the fans are excited to watch.

“I am 100 percent healthy and ready for Saturday night. I can’t wait. Madison Square Garden is like a second home for me. So many great moments in my career have taken place at Madison Square Garden. I won the lightweight title against Jorge Linares in that arena, so returning there brings back many great memories.

“I’m not going to say if I am the number one lightweight. That is a question for the fans. I always want to show my skills in the ring, and I hope the fans enjoy what I do.

“We can discuss my future after Saturday night. Of course, Kambosos is a fight I would like. He is the new champion, and he had a great performance against Lopez. But Commey deserves my full attention, and that is the task I am focused on now.

“My goals keep me motivated, one of which is to become undisputed champion. Commey is one of the division’s most dangerous fighters, and he is the one standing in my way.”

Lomachenko vs. Commey headlines a stacked quadruple-header airing after the Heisman Trophy Ceremony on ESPN & ESPN Deportes (simulcast on ESPN+) at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. Heavyweight knockout artist Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson (10-0, 10 KOs) returns in an eight-rounder against Ukraine’s Oleksandr Teslenko (17-1, 13 KOs), recent U.S. Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis (3-0, 2 KOs) takes on Mexican veteran Jose Zaragoza (8-3-1, 2 KOs) in a six-round lightweight tilt, and middleweight Nico Ali Walsh (2-0, 2 KOs) opens the telecast in a four-rounder versus Reyes Sanchez (6-0, 2 KOs).

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with DiBella Entertainment, tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster.com or MSG.com.

In order to attend the event, all guests age 12 and older are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination (this means having at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine prior to attending). MSG’s comprehensive COVID-19 guidelines, including those regarding children under 12, can be found at https://www.msg.com/madison-square-garden/faqs.

Press Conference Notes & Quotes: Lomachenko and Commey Ready to Headline Star-Studded MSG Fight Night

Live on ESPN & ESPN Deportes Saturday at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

 CLICK HERE for Photos 
Courtesy: Mikey Williams/Top Rank via Getty Images

CLICK HERE to watch the Press Conference

At Thursday’s press conference, this is what the fighters had to say.

Vasiliy Lomachenko

“Madison Square Garden is a special place for me because during my professional career I had a lot of memorable fights here. It is the Mecca of Boxing. Thank you, Commey, you are a strong fighter. I think we are giving a very interesting fight to the fans. As I said before, he has big power and reach and has experience and a big heart.”

“I’m very excited because this is the next step of my boxing career, and it will be very interesting for the fans.”

Richard Commey

“I’m feeling good. I’m very excited. This is my second time coming here. The last time didn’t work out well for me {against Teofimo Lopez}, so I have the opportunity to right the wrong.”

“I’ve got all of my country {Ghana} behind me. I’ve got all of the little children back home who want to be where I am, and I know it’s not an easy fight, but I’m coming. Losing is part of boxing, so regardless of how you lose, it’s all about coming back. So whatever happened with the Teofimo Lopez fight, it is what it is and I took it as a man. I knew I needed to come back and I came back very strong, and that is the reason why Loma chose me, and Saturday we are going to see what happens.”

Jared Anderson

“I’ll be honest, he let a cruiserweight stop him, so that says it all. I had a pretty tough camp emotionally, but we came physically. We’re now mentally prepared, thanks to my team. They mean a lot to me. They’re behind me.”

Oleksandr Teslenko

“I know I’m the underdog, but I don’t care what people say.”

Nico Ali Walsh

“This is such a humbling experience and it’s been an honor. It’s been a whirlwind these last couple of months, and to be among these great fighters… all these fighters I’ve watched before in the past. Being on the undercard of Lomachenko is amazing.”

Xander Zayas

“I have to close out the year strong and put on a show here at Madison Square Garden.”

“I’ve been having a lot of fun here in New York. It means a lot to me. it means a lot to the Puerto Rican fans. My team came off a great victory two weeks ago {with George Kambosos Jr.} here at Madison Square Garden, so I want to keep that momentum going, I’m ready to put on a show Saturday night, and now it’s laser focus.”

Keyshawn Davis

“I’m signed with Top Rank, the {Olympics} are over, and I feel like there is really no more pressure. It’s all business at this point. I believe in myself. I know I can fight. I’m going to go in there like I’ve been doing this entire year. We’re just going to keep this train going.”

Kelvin Davis

“This means a lot to me. It’s like a dream come true with me and my brother on the same card.”

SATURDAY, December 11, 2021

ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Richard Commey, 12 rounds, vacant WBO Intercontinental Lightweight Title

Jared Anderson vs. Oleksandr Teslenko, 8 rounds, Anderson’s Jr. NABF Heavyweight Title

Keyshawn Davis vs. Jose Zaragoza, 6 rounds, lightweight

Nico Ali Walsh vs. Reyes Sanchez, 4 rounds, middleweight

ESPN+, 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT

Xander Zayas vs. Alessio Mastronunzio, 6 rounds, junior middleweight

Pablo Valdez vs. Julio Cesar Sanchez, 6 rounds, welterweight

James Wilkins vs. Juan Tapia, 8 rounds, featherweight

Joe Ward vs. Britton Norwood, 6 rounds, light heavyweight

Kelvin Davis vs. Ryan Schwartzberg, 4 rounds, welterweight

John Bauza vs. Michael Williams Jr., 8 rounds, junior welterweight

Weigh-In Results: Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Richard Commey

TOMORROW at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+

 • CLICK HERE for PHOTOS
Credit: Mikey Williams (Top Rank via Getty Images)• CLICK HERE for VIDEO(ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+. 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT)

    •  Vasiliy Lomachenko 134.4 lbs vs. Richard Commey 134.2 lbs 
(Vacant WBO Intercontinental Lightweight Title — 12 Rounds)

•     Jared Anderson 240 lbs vs. Oleksandr Teslenko 213.8 lbs 
(Anderson’s Jr. NABF Heavyweight Title — 8 Rounds)

•   Keyshawn Davis 137.8 lbs vs. Jose Zaragoza 136.2 lbs 
(Lightweight — 6 Rounds)

•    Nico Ali Walsh 159.2 lbs vs. Reyes Sanchez 161.8 lbs 
(Middleweight — 4 Rounds)



(ESPN+, 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT)

   •    Xander Zayas 152.6 lbs vs. Alessio Mastronunzio 152.2 lbs
 (Junior Middleweight — 6 Rounds)

   •    Pablo Valdez 146 lbs vs.  Julio Cesar Sanchez 149.6 lbs
 (Welterweight — 6 Rounds)

   •     James Wilkins 127.2 lbs vs. Juan Tapia 129.4 lbs
 (Junior Lightweight  — 8 Rounds)

  •       Joe Ward 175.2 lbs vs. Britton Norwood 176.4 lbs
 (Light Heavyweight — 6 Rounds)  •       Kelvin Davis 144 lbs vs. Ryan Schwartzberg 144.8 lbs
 (Welterweight — 4 Rounds)   •     John Bauza 140.2 lbs vs.  Michael Williams Jr. 138.6 lbs
 (Junior Welterweight — 8 Rounds)

Event Name: Weigh-in — Lomachenko vs. Commey
Date: Friday, December 10, 2021
Link to Images on Getty: CLICK HERE
Loma vs. Commey Odds

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Robert Brizel - Head Boxing Correspondent
Robert Brizel - Head Boxing Correspondent
Robert is the Head Boxing Correspondent for Real Combat Media Boxing since 2013. Robert is also a photographer and ringside reporter for the RCM Tri State region which includes NJ, NY and PA. Robert conducts exclusive interviews, provides historical boxing articles and provides editorial ringside coverage of major boxing events. You can contact or follow Robert on Facebook and by email at [email protected].