Robert Easter Jr. will take on Richard Commey for the Vacant IBF Lightweight title, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.
The title was vacated by Rances Barthelemy just after his win over Mickey Bey Jr. this past Friday night.
“I’m really excited to finally get my shot at the world title,” Commey, 29, said on Tuesday at a news conference in Accra, Ghana. “I have been waiting too long and too many fighters have avoided me, but it seems like we are finally there. I would like to thank my promoter Team Sauerland for helping to get this opportunity, which I will take with both hands.”
Said Sauerland: “We’re delighted that Richard will finally get his chance to fight for the world title. This has been a long time coming, and Richard has been very patient. But now his time has come. He is, in my opinion, the best lightweight in the world, and I have every confidence he will win the world title and then go on to unify the division.”
“I’m excited,” Easter told ESPN. “I’ve dreamed about it since I was a young kid growing up in the sport of boxing, and here it is. I’ve been improving in every fight and that’s why I got the opportunity so soon after 17 fights. But I have to prove myself again by taking this title home with me. I’m a true believer in my skill and in making a guy adjust to me.”
“We will try our best to bring this fight to Ghana,” Sauerland said. “My father (Hall of Fame promoter Wilfried Sauerland) started his career promoting fights in Africa, and we would love to bring big-time boxing back to Ghana. This country has a rich boxing history with many great world champions, and Richard can take his place among these greats by winning the IBF title.”
Commey said he would love to fight for a world title in his home country.
“If the fight comes to Ghana, I will make the whole country proud,” he said. “It would be a dream come true to fight in our national stadium.”
