Ghanaian boxer Richard Commey lost his IBF Lightweight title to Teofimo Lopez following a second round crushing Knock Out from the Mexican American at the Madison Square Garden in New York.
After a somewhat even first round, Lopez came into the second round with more poise, sending Commey into the canvas with devastating right hook.
Commey beat the count to manage to stay in the fight but having sensed danger, Lopez went in for the kill, firing a flurry of powerful punches to overpower the Ghanaian and snatch his IBF Lightweight title away in impressive fashion.
The right hand that signaled the official arrival of #TheTakeover 😳#CommeyLopez | @TeofimoLopez pic.twitter.com/xrh6gZVfXX
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) December 15, 2019
Ghanaians have taken to social media in reaction to Commey’s defeat. Here is the best of the lot:
Citi FM’s Godfred Akoto Boafo was “stunned”.
That was an eruption. Im stunned. Stunned!!!
— Godfred Akoto Boafo (@eastsportsman) December 15, 2019
TV3’s Michael Oti Adjei described it as a “real beating”
That was a real beating for Commey . Dazed by a right before a flurry of punches ended it all. pic.twitter.com/qd7lSABvsY
— Michael Oti Adjei (@OtiAdjei) December 15, 2019
Former Citi FM sports journalist, Sam Fifi Bartels questioned the strategy from Commey’s team before offering words of encouragement in a follow up tweet.
Richard Commey's team got their strategy wrong. Teofimo Lopez was always going to start fast. Richard should have weathered the early storm and then gone to work. Lopez is the new IBF lightweight champion.
🎥 ESPN pic.twitter.com/493Y6ae8Rz
🎥 ESPN https://t.co/493Y6ae8Rz https://t.co/6xxnzCW0ha— samuel fifi bartels (@sammybartels) December 15, 2019
We could copiously analyse Richard Commey's mistakes in this fight against Lopez but as Mike Tyson famously said "everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth". Hard luck champ. It's back to the gym. Ghana is still proud of you.#CommeyLopez
— samuel fifi bartels (@sammybartels) December 15, 2019
The sad aspect is Ghanaian boxers losing their titles close to xmas, shuttering our celebration. #CommeyLopez pic.twitter.com/nPwpS6dich
— SEIDU ADAMU (@Chiefseiduadamu) December 15, 2019
Be like them tow wanna man ooo. Round 2 TKO. Slow ba we move #CommeyLopez
— Nii Bortey Oteleŋshi Pabs (@optimum_desire) December 15, 2019
UNBELIEVABLE: I watched the fight and was shocked at @RichardCommey performance. I know my man and I think something went wrong on the night#CommeyLopez pic.twitter.com/68aOx6uO2v
— Bernard Neequaye (@BernardNeequaye) December 15, 2019
Lopez beat Commey potɔɔ he knock him out in the second round 😔😔😔 #CommeyLopez
— Kofi Sika GuyGuy (@SikafotosIV) December 15, 2019