There are an abundance of great fights on the horizon during the remainder of the year, with boxing ending 2019 strongly and providing fans with plenty of quality match-ups. 

We’ve already been treated to a huge light-heavyweight unification battle between Artur Beterbiev and Oleksandr Gvozdyk, the World Boxing Super Series final between Regis Prograis and Josh Taylor as well as Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez moving up in weight to contest Sergey Kovalev. 

December will round off the year in style, with Andy Ruiz Jr’s heavyweight title rematch against England’s Anthony Joshua being a huge showdown before Christmas, with the Englishman being the favourite at 1/3 in the boxing betting to regain his belts. But one week after the big men get in the ring in Saudi Arabia for their anticipated second scuffle, all eyes will be on the lightweight division as Ghana’s rising star Richard Commey (29-2, 26 KOs) defends his IBF crown against dangerous unbeaten American challenger Teofimo Lopez (14-0, 11 KOs).

The now 32-year-old claimed his current strap back in February of this year when he comfortably dispatched Isa Chaniev inside just two rounds at The Ford Center in Frisco. The destructive knockout artist then defended his title for the first time four months later with an eighth-round stoppage success over Mexican-American Ray Beltran.

Next up is a highly awaited clash with up-and-coming talent Lopez, who has been steadily making a name for himself in recent months and becoming one of the most promising contenders around. This isn’t only an ordinary title defence for Commey, with the eventual victor here being lined up for a massive undisputed showdown against Ukrainian maestro Vasyl Lomachenko next year. 

It’s at New York City’s Madison Square Garden that the Ghanaian will be aiming to continue his fine run of form since back-to-back defeats which threatened to derail his professional career back in 2016. The reigning IBF title-holder was narrowly beaten by both American Robert Easter Jr and Russian Denis Shafikov, losing on a close split decision on both occasions. Although, he bounced back soon after with successive KO wins over Alejandro Luna and Yardley Armenta Cruz across 2018. He maintained that run of stoppage victories this year when winning the belt and defending it. 

Commey’s next target is to maintain that surge by overcoming Lopez on December 14th. Another eye-catching triumph on American soil will set up the bout with ‘Hi-Tech’ Lomachenko, widely regarded as the best fighter on the planet and consensus pound-for-pound number one. That would be a mammoth clash for all of the titles in the 135 pounds division but Commey must first deal with the threat that is coming up in December and avoid any slip-ups against a clearly dangerous Lopez when the pair collide. 

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