Jose Pedraza and Richard Commey collide in a battle of two former world champions for an Oklahoma showdown.
“Sniper” Pedraza and “RC” Commey meet in the 10-round junior welterweight main event. The show is on Saturday, August 27, at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa.
“The junior welterweight division is talent-rich. The winner of Pedraza-Commey is in line for a massive fight,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.
Pedraza vs Commey
Pedraza (29-4, 14 KOs), from Cidra, Puerto Rico, is a two-weight world champion. He has fought many of this generation’s top fighters since capturing the IBF junior lightweight crown in June 2015.
He moved up to the junior welterweight ranks in 2019, rebounding from a loss to Jose Zepeda. ‘Sniper’ authored victories over Mikkel LesPierre, 2008 U.S. Olympian Javier Molina, and the previously unbeaten Julian Rodriguez.
Pedraza’s momentum was halted in March when he dropped a tightly contested decision to former unified world champion Jose Ramirez.
Pedraza said, “August 27 will definitely be a high-stakes battle between two world-class fighters. We are both coming to get back on the winning path.
“That’s the perfect recipe for a great fight. I know that a convincing victory against an opponent of Commey’s caliber will put me back in contention to capture that coveted world title opportunity.
“Despite what happened in my last fight, I still have my sights set on being crowned world champion at 140 pounds.
“I’m still chasing my goal of becoming a three-division world champion.”
RC
Commey (30-4, 27 KOs) is one of Ghana’s most accomplished fighters. He captured the IBF lightweight world title in February 2019 with a second-round stoppage over Isa Chaniev.
Since losing his title to Teofimo Lopez that December, Commey knocked out Jackson Marinez in six rounds. He then lost a decision to pound-for-pound legend Vasiliy “Loma” Lomachenko.
After 34 fights campaigning as a lightweight, Commey now moves up to 140 pounds in hopes of winning a second world title.
“I am grateful to DiBella Entertainment and Top Rank to be fighting on ESPN as I begin my quest to become a two-weight world champion,” Commey said.
“Pedraza is a gentleman and a great champion. I will have to be at my best to earn the victory.”
Efe Ajagba
The undercard — streaming exclusively on ESPN+ — is scheduled to include the return of heavyweight puncher Efe Ajagba (15-1, 12 KOs) in an eight-rounder against Hungary’s Jozsef Darmos (14-4-3, 10 KOs).
Ajagba, a 2016 Nigerian Olympian, has not fought since last October’s defeat to Cuban star Frank Sanchez on the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder III undercard.
Injuries delayed Ajagba’s return, and he’s looking to reclaim his status as one of the division’s rising talents.
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with DiBella Entertainment, Pedraza-Commey will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT.
Pedraza vs Commey tickets starting at $49 are on sale now at www.hardrockcasinotulsa.com.
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