Ike Quartey urges Richard Commey to win to keep title hopes alive
Former World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion, Ike ‘Bazooka’ Quartey has called on compatriot Richard Commey to force a win against Jose Ramirez to trigger his quest at becoming a world champion again.
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Quartey advised Commey in an interview with the Daily Graphic that he needed to win against Ramirez in their World Boxing Council (WBC) super lightweight championship on Saturday to put his career back on track to become a two-division world titlist.
The 36-year-old hard-hitting Commey is scheduled to face America’s former unified super lightweight champion in Fresno, California, on Saturday in a career-defining bout.
Ahead of the crucial bout, Quartey, who dominated the welterweight division during his heyday, wants Commey to put up a splendid performance to earn a shot at the world championship.
“He has to continue working tirelessly to achieve his dream of becoming a two-division world champion because that is the only way to prove himself,” said Quartey.
“He has been one of the best fighters in the nation’s history and in recent times but this fight is crucial and he must put up a splendid performance to force an important win”.
Commey’s highs and lows
Commey (30-4-1, 27 KOs) has just a win in his last four bouts with two defeats and a draw. The Ghanaian lost to Teofimo Lopez and Vasyl Lomachenko but dispatched Jackson Marinez.
On his super lightweight debut, Commey managed a split draw with Jose Pedraza in an entertaining encounter last March.
On Saturday, Commey comes up with Ramirez who is hoping to earn a second consecutive victory after his 140 pounds undisputed championship defeat to Josh Taylor two years ago.
At 36, Commey is at the twilight of his career and pundits say Saturday’s clash is a must-win for the Ghanaian else he could go down the pecking order in the division and may not get a high-profile fight or another shot at a world title.
